Topics Covered: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Quantum key distribution (QKD):
Context:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully demonstrated communication between its two labs using Quantum Key Distribution technology.
- The Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and The Research Centre Imarat (RCI) were the two labs that participated in this demonstration.
What you need to know about this technology?
Typical encryption relies on traditional mathematics and while for now it is more or less adequate and safe from hacking, the development of quantum computing threatens that.
- Quantum computing refers to a new era of faster and more powerful computers, and the theory goes that they would be able to break current levels of encryption.
- QKD works by using photons — the particles which transmit light — to transfer data.
- QKD allows two distant users, who do not share a long secret key initially, to produce a common, random string of secret bits, called a secret key.
- Using the one-time pad encryption this key is proven to be secure to encrypt and decrypt a message, which can then be transmitted over a standard communication channel.
Significance of this technology:
- The encryption is “unbreakable” and that’s mainly because of the way data is carried via the photon. A photon cannot be perfectly copied and any attempt to measure it will disturb it. This means that a person trying to intercept the data will leave a trace.
- The implications could be huge for cybersecurity, making businesses safer, but also making it more difficult for governments to hack into communication.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- What are qubits?
- What is Quantum technology?
- What are photons?
- What is QSD?
Mains Link:
Discuss why QSD is seen as superior technology when compared to others.
Sources: PIB.
