Oxford breakthrough allows secure quantum computing from homes
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Researchers at Oxford University have developed an innovative method enabling millions of users to access quantum computing from the comfort of their homes. The breakthrough, called blind quantum computing, works over existing fiber optic systems and can deliver quantum computing securely, according to a university press release.
Quantum computing is the next generation of computing systems that can reduce computation times from multiple years to a few minutes. This is possible because quantum bits (qubits) serve as repositories of information and can hold values 0, 1, or both simultaneously, as opposed to conventional binary bits. This allows quantum computing several advantages, including parallel processing like never seen before.
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However, these systems are typically large and need ultra-low temperatures to function, putting them out of the reach of users of modern computing systems, typically in homes and offices.
As quantum computing becomes more mainstream, there are also fears about the reliability of security and encryption systems. In this scenario, a system that makes quantum computing accessible and secure is needed.
Blind quantum computing
Led by David Lucas, a professor of physics at the University of Oxford, the research team leveraged blind quantum computing to connect two separate quantum computing entities.
The system connects over an optical fiber network, the backbone of the modern-day Internet system. It can connect a quantum computing server with an independent computer that remotely accesses it, much like it would access a cloud server. The independent computer comprises a simple device capable of detecting photons or light particles.
“We have shown for the first time that quantum computing in the cloud can be accessed in a scalable, practical way which will also give people complete security and privacy of data, plus the ability to verify its authenticity,” Lucas said in the press release.
Quantum computing securely
“Never in history have the issues surrounding privacy of data and code been more urgently debated than in the present era of cloud computing and artificial intelligence,’ Lucas continued. “As quantum computers become more capable, people will seek to use them with complete security and privacy over networks.”
Every computation in the blind quantum computing system incurs a correction that must be applied to the following computations. The researchers used a unique combination of photons and quantum memory to enable this design. This correction must be applied in real-time to comply with the algorithm that makes up the system.
“Using blind quantum computing, clients can access remote quantum computers to process confidential data with secret algorithms and even verify the results are correct without revealing any useful information,” said Peter Drmota, a postdoctoral researcher at Oxford involved in the work. “Realizing this concept is a big step forward in quantum computing and keeping our information safe online.”
The research will eventually lead to the development of commercial devices that can plug into laptops and safeguard data when people access cloud-based quantum computing services from home.
The research findings were published in the journal Physical Review Letters.