While AI is an extremely pertinent topic, quantum computing—which may aid in the development of AI and other emerging technologies—is equally as important.
Industry professionals are discovering new avenues through which quantum computing will impact cybersecurity — from threatening widely used public-key cryptographic algorithms and introducing new concepts like “harvest now, decrypt later” to its potential significance for advanced threat detection and malware analysis. These harmful and beneficial revelations are the driving force behind modern quantum innovation.
Dr. Svetlana Malinovskaya, a professor at the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science, conducts research at the intersection of quantum computing and lasers. Lasers have the unique ability to produce wavelengths with extreme precision. They play a pivotal role in quantum computing, as the particles emitted by these lasers are picked up by quantum systems, allowing them to enter higher-energy states with greater control. However, according to Dr. Malinovskaya, the increased energy produced by these lasers “can also trigger unwanted multiphoton processes allowing the molecule to access many different states and pathways, making its behavior much more difficult to predict and control.”
Extreme precision is a necessity when manipulating the behavior of quantum systems. In cybersecurity, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) creates a secure medium for distributing cryptographic keys. If a laser pulse contains more than a single photon, an adversary can intercept a photon, potentially compromising the security of the quantum channel.
In quantum computing more generally, this undesired communication between photons creates ambiguity when taking critically sensitive measurements.
Dr. Malinovskaya and her team of researchers developed a potential solution to quantum crosstalk, in which the laser emits 12 short, low-intensity bursts rather than a strong beam of directed light. This process, referred to as a “digitized” version of a laser, produces the same effect as a steady beam, allowing the photons to remain in a controlled state. As Dr. Malinovskaya explains, “Each pulse carries much less energy, but its timing, intensity, frequency, and phase are precisely calculated and controlled.”
This newfound approach could help unravel the complex challenges faced by quantum systems previously plagued by erratic behavior. In the decades to come, this approach may be viewed not merely as a solution to a modern quantum-computing challenge, but as another step toward developing increasingly precise and capable quantum technologies.
