The security of quantum cryptography

Abstract

A common desire in today's world is that of security. Whether it is keeping your e-mail private or stopping the government from hacking into your computer, the idea behind cryptography is to communicate between two parties in different locations, and to secure this information from outsiders. During the last half century there have been numerous advances in encryption schemes and also in the machines that process such information. Modern encryption algorithms have become increasingly more complex with advances in computers and technology, and encryption algorithms such as RSA and DES have been presented as algorithms that have remained secure for decades. These recent advances in encryption schemes will be examined in the first part of this paper. On the other hand, because the security of classical ciphers relies on the secrecy of a key, advances in research and computing may begin to compromise the security of these cryptosystems, as quantum computers would be capable of mathematical calculations that could break many modern encryption algorithms. Unlike classical cryptosystems, quantum cryptography obeys the laws of quantum physics, resulting in a much stronger, provable security. Many great advances have come in recent decades, and the latter part of this paper deals with these advances as well as the phenomena of quantum physics, the evolution of quantum computing, and the study of quantum cryptography.

Notes

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Thesis Completion

2004

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Mohapatra, Ram N.

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Degree Program

Mathematics

Subjects

Arts and Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic;Dissertations, Academic -- Arts and Sciences

Format

Print

Identifier

DP0021842

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Document Type

Honors in the Major Thesis

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