Quantum coin flipping
Nature Communications
November 30, 2011
Quantum coin flipping which cannot be biased by dishonest parties exploiting information loss is reported in Nature Communications this week. This could lead to its use in quantum cryptography, for procedures such as mail certification and remote contract signing where communicating parties do not trust each other. Quantum cryptography — which uses the quantum states of light particles called photons to encode information for transmission — exploits the fact that measurements cannot be made of a quantum system without disturbing it. However, practical systems are subject to loss of quantum data, and this means that a dishonest party can completely bias the outcome of a quantum coin flip. Felix Bussieres and colleagues show a way to overcome this problem, so that the information loss cannot be used to cheat more effectively.
doi: 10.1038/ncomms1572
Research highlights
-
Jul 6
Biotechnology: Mice cloned from freeze-dried somatic cellsNature Communications
-
Jul 4
Particle physics: A decade of Higgs boson researchNature
-
Jul 1
Space health: The path of most resistance could help limit bone loss during spaceflightScientific Reports
-
Jun 30
Evolution: Hawks learn on the fly to swoop up before perchingNature
-
Jun 28
Astronomy: Hydrogen- and helium-rich exoplanets may provide habitable conditions for billions of yearsNature Astronomy
-
Jun 24
Sport science: New wearable sensor to measure neck strain may detect potential concussionScientific Reports