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Topic: Quantum computers are finally here (Read 830 times)

member
Activity: 64
Merit: 10
May 08, 2013, 01:43:20 PM
#8
QKD is actually a way to prevent potential threat of QC, as it replaces vulnerable RSA/ECC. It's stage of development is much better than that of universal QC, as it is already used by some Swiss banks. Recently a QKD between earth and flying plane was successfully accomplished.  
Here is a video explaining how the simplest QKD protocol BB84 works even without knowledge of QM: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVzRbU6y7Ks
legendary
Activity: 1554
Merit: 1222
brb keeping up with the Kardashians
legendary
Activity: 2062
Merit: 1035
Fill Your Barrel with Bitcoins!
May 08, 2013, 01:33:54 PM
#6
1.21 gigawatts. Great Scott!
sr. member
Activity: 260
Merit: 250
May 08, 2013, 01:28:05 PM
#5
btw - the latest progress on quantum computers is that researchers have been able to create CNOT gates with quantum dots.  CNOT gates can be used to form all other types of gates.

Google for more info, but here is a good article on it:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130401092650.htm

[edit]
Here is the URL for the original article from UMD:
http://jqi.umd.edu/news/quantum-dot-commands-light
[/edit]
donator
Activity: 1218
Merit: 1079
Gerald Davis
May 08, 2013, 01:12:25 PM
#4
That is quantum cryptographic not quantum computing.  It isn't used for breaking encrypted messages, it is the holy grail of secure key exchange with no algorithm weaknesses.

Simple version is that a large one time random key can't be broken.  There is no algorithm weakness, no method of attack except brute force, and if the key is large enough brute force becomes infeasible.  Quantum cryptography (namely quantum key sharing) allows the creation of a shared secret between two parties who can't be eavesdropped.  Once two parties have a mutual random secret key they can communicate over normal methods with absolutely no risk of attack.  An attacker could record everything that is being transmitted and it would be useless forever.  Not 10 years or 10,000 years but forever.  There is no weakness which can be found, no crypto-analysis which can eventually unlock the secret.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_key_distribution

QKD has been around a long time but this if the first widespread usage of it I have heard about.  
sr. member
Activity: 434
Merit: 250
In Hashrate We Trust!
May 08, 2013, 01:08:53 PM
#3
Yeah, no, this has nothing to do with quantum computers. Also quantum networks are nothing new. DARPA had one running back in 2003. http://www.mendeley.com/research/darpa-quantum-network/
So they can encrypt and decrypt messages, but not use it to bruteforce other messages?
hero member
Activity: 952
Merit: 1009
May 08, 2013, 01:06:56 PM
#2
Yeah, no, this has nothing to do with quantum computers. Also quantum networks are nothing new. DARPA had one running back in 2003. http://www.mendeley.com/research/darpa-quantum-network/
sr. member
Activity: 434
Merit: 250
In Hashrate We Trust!
May 08, 2013, 01:03:41 PM
#1
Quote
"The US government has been running a quantum Internet for over two years"
http://rt.com/usa/alamos-secure-internet-quantum-902/

This technology is still under development but I dont see it as a threat to Bitcoin, yet. They have more important cases to decrypt than our little bitcoin economy.
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