“Our technology provides a new pathway for the synthesis of quantum nanoribbons with precise width control, leveraging their unique mechanical and electronic properties as a single photon light source to realize secure communication known as ‘quantum communication’,” said Dr. Avetik Harutyunyan, Senior Chief Scientist, Honda Research Institute USA Inc. and the leader of the quantum research.

Secure communications based on quantum key distribution (QKD) method leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to protect the information. QKD method relies on the secure distribution of encryption keys between two parties, allowing them to generate a shared secret key that can be used to encrypt and decrypt sensitive information. Any attempt to intercept the encrypted communications will be immediately detected as it would physically interfere with the transmission of the information.

HRI researchers and university collaborators were able to encode the information on a stream of individual photons – “atoms” of light or elementary particles of the light – emitted by the new nanoribbon material, analogous to the use of binary code of “0’s” and “1’s” used in computing. The stream of photons can then be used to create and distribute the information between a communicating transmitter and receiver. In this scheme, the transmitter sends a series of single photons in one of two possible quantum states, and the receiver then performs a measurement that differentiates between these states. After comparing the transmitted and measured quantum states of the photons, the sender and the receiver can establish a secure key that can be used for encryption of their communication. Any attempt to eavesdrop on the communication will inevitably interfere with the quantum states, introducing errors that can be immediately detected by the sender and the receiver.