Feasibility study for next-generation light source for Satellite Quantum Key Distribution
Lead Participant:
NU QUANTUM LTD
Abstract
"Quantum computers will soon be powerful enough to crack current encryption protocols in seconds - a global threat to all industries, governments and individuals. Quantum cryptography provides a robust solution. Governments are acting now - only within Autumn 2018, over £2 bn public investments in Quantum Technologies have been announced across Europe.
One of the already-marketed quantum cryptography solutions is Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). Here, secret keys used to encrypt messages, are sent from A to B encoded in quantum objects: in single-photons. The most efficient way of achieving long-distance QKD is via Satellite. Ground-based optic fibre will most-likely enable short distances.
Efforts towards the implementation of Satellite QKD (SatQKD) have started, with over 21 missions across the world encompassing governments, space agencies, start-ups and established industrial players.
The main problem faced by SatQKD is the low rates of communication. All current SatQKD missions use lasers as photon sources. Lasers are ill-equipped to deliver single-photons (instead were designed to deliver trillions of them), yielding low rates that will result in an early data transfer bottleneck. In addition, they are usually large and power-hungry objects.
Nu Quantum, recent spin-out from the University of Cambridge, has developed and patented a method to fabricate true single-photon sources. Each source is predicted to deliver over 10x higher rates than a laser. Further, our technology allows to fit hundreds of sources per square centimetre, it is on-a-chip and has low power requirements.
This technology will be the key enabler of high-throughput, next-generation Satellite QKD.
This project will allow Nu Quantum, with the University of Cambridge as academic partner (Physics and Materials Science Departments), to run a key feasibility study on the performance of these sources for SatQKD. This is the world's first attempt to use true quantum light sources for SatQKD. Commercial partner Dot Quantum, QKD expert and quantum cryptography consultant, will model the sources to benchmark against existing solutions. The project also includes a market strategy report focused on user needs, which will inform Nu Quantum's exploitation plan towards raising private investment.
A commercial opportunity at the interesting intersection between Space Tech, Cybersecurity and Quantum."
One of the already-marketed quantum cryptography solutions is Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). Here, secret keys used to encrypt messages, are sent from A to B encoded in quantum objects: in single-photons. The most efficient way of achieving long-distance QKD is via Satellite. Ground-based optic fibre will most-likely enable short distances.
Efforts towards the implementation of Satellite QKD (SatQKD) have started, with over 21 missions across the world encompassing governments, space agencies, start-ups and established industrial players.
The main problem faced by SatQKD is the low rates of communication. All current SatQKD missions use lasers as photon sources. Lasers are ill-equipped to deliver single-photons (instead were designed to deliver trillions of them), yielding low rates that will result in an early data transfer bottleneck. In addition, they are usually large and power-hungry objects.
Nu Quantum, recent spin-out from the University of Cambridge, has developed and patented a method to fabricate true single-photon sources. Each source is predicted to deliver over 10x higher rates than a laser. Further, our technology allows to fit hundreds of sources per square centimetre, it is on-a-chip and has low power requirements.
This technology will be the key enabler of high-throughput, next-generation Satellite QKD.
This project will allow Nu Quantum, with the University of Cambridge as academic partner (Physics and Materials Science Departments), to run a key feasibility study on the performance of these sources for SatQKD. This is the world's first attempt to use true quantum light sources for SatQKD. Commercial partner Dot Quantum, QKD expert and quantum cryptography consultant, will model the sources to benchmark against existing solutions. The project also includes a market strategy report focused on user needs, which will inform Nu Quantum's exploitation plan towards raising private investment.
A commercial opportunity at the interesting intersection between Space Tech, Cybersecurity and Quantum."
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| NU QUANTUM LTD | £130,410 | £ 91,287 |
Participant |
||
| DOTQUANTUM LTD | £55,000 | £ 38,500 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE | £55,960 | £ 55,960 |
| INNOVATE UK | ||
| UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Carmen Palacios-Berraquero (Project Manager) |