Date:  
19 February 2008, Tuesday 7:45 PM
Speaker:  
Dr. Joshua C. Bienfang, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD
Title:  
Broadband Quantum Key Distribution
Abstract:  

Quantum key distribution (QKD) can generate secret cryptographic keys without relying on computational complexity for security. Such keys can be used in the only verifiably secret cipher, the Vernam, or one-time-pad cipher. However, this application requires cryptographic keys that are as long as the message to be encrypted, making one-time-pad encryption with previously demonstrated QKD systems impractical. We have applied telecommunication clock-synchronization techniques to significantly increase the capacity of QKD systems, resulting in error-corrected and privacy-amplified key rates above 1 Mbps. This performance is roughly two orders of magnitude greater than previous demonstrations, and enabled the one-time-pad encryption of streaming video signals. I will give an introduction to QKD and present a detailed overview of our technical approach that highlights paths to increased performance.

Biography:  

Joshua Bienfang received his PhD from the University of New Mexico in 2001 for his work in laser frequency stabilization and continuous-wave Raman lasers. In 2002 at the Air Force Research Labs in Albuquerque, NM, he developed a 20-Watt continuous-wave source at 589 nm for use in adaptive optics. From 2003 to 2005 he was a National Research Council post-doctoral researcher at NIST, and is now a staff scientist.

Sponsor:  
National Capital Section of the Optical Society of America Co-sponsored by the Washington / Northern Virginia LEOS Chapter
Place:  
OSA Headquarters, 2010 Massachusetts Ave, Washington, DC
Time:  
6:00 PM - Social Half-Hour / Networking, Pay-As-You-Go Bar, Sala Thai Restaurant, 2016 P St, NW, Washington, DC
6:30 PM - optional dinner at Sala Thai restaurant (served family style and includes appetizers, entrees, & rice)
* ADVANCED RESERVATIONS REQUIRED (by 4 PM, Fri. 15 Feb 2008). Contact John Burris
* Price ~ $22, including taxes and tip, plus a $2 surcharge for non-current NCS/OSA members. Beverages and desserts are extra.
7:45 PM - Lecture at the Optical Society Headquarters
Contact:  
John Burris 301-614-6031
Directions:  
The OSA Executive Offices are located at 2010 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington DC, just west of Dupont Circle. There will be parking in the OSA building garage that can be entered from P Street just across the street from the restaurant. Someone will be watching the remote monitors to let people in, either through the garage (if in your car), or the front door (Mass. Ave. side) if you are on foot. If the garage does not open reasonably promptly press the buzzer (Do NOT use the phone). It is very important that you DO NOT pick up the telephone by the front and back entrances. This phone goes directly to security which in turn calls several OSA staff members at their homes! Please park only in spaces marked "Reserved for OSA". Please try to carpool as much as possible, or take the Metro, since parking is limited. The lecture will be in the First Floor Conference Room. The Sala Thai Restaurant is at 2016 P Street NW directly across the street from the entrance to the OSA garage. Note that the Dupont Circle Metro station (Red Line) is only a couple of blocks away.