May 4 2006
The University of Melbourne has announced an $AUS 9 million international joint venture to commercialise anti-eavesdropper technology based on quantum cryptography.
“Using a unique diamond-based device which produces a single photon of light, we will be able to detect eavesdroppers and stop highly sensitive information being intercepted or stolen,” said Quantum Communications Victoria (QCV) CEO and University of Melbourne scientist, Dr Shane Huntington.
The QCV program within the University’s School of Physics has secured a deal with world leading quantum communication production and commercialization companies, MaqiQ Technologies, Qucor Pty Ltd and Silicon Graphics Inc.
The joint venture began after QCV was awarded $3.3 million as part of an STI grant from the Department of Innovation Industry and Regional Development to develop the technology further.
The University of Melbourne technology has wide-spread implications for financial institutions, security agencies, governments and individuals who need to communicate sensitive information with total security.
“Eavesdropping is a global problem which causes huge financial losses for security agencies. There is a critical need for Australia to keep up with the rest of the world in Internet security,” Dr Huntington said.
According to the FBI, breaches of critical information transmitted through the Internet causes losses of millions of dollars worldwide.
Dr Huntington says current communications systems are not fool proof. Hackers or eavesdroppers can extract information from optical fibres without either user being aware eavesdropping has occurred.
“The challenge has been to completely remove all avenues of interception by eavesdroppers,” he said.
Members of QCV have recently been awarded a Commonwealth Government International Science Linkages Grant of $480,000 from the Department of Education Science and Training to develop its diamond-based technology further in an exciting international collaboration with researchers in USA and Germany.
“This additional grant enhances the research base of the QCV program. In particular, it will help us to find infrared sources of single photons appropriate for the world’s telecommunications networks,” said Dr Huntington.
“This rare instance of an international collaborating in the Australian commercialisation of a quantum technology will help to kick start the quantum communications industry worldwide,” he said.
The Quantum Communications Victoria program established by the Victorian Government aims to provide prototype single photon sources for industry within the next three years.
“With the support of the State and Federal Governments and our new international and Australian collaborators, the University of Melbourne is leading the way in taking quantum technology from theory to reality.”
http://www.unimelb.edu.au