Hacking photons

Hacking photons
founder:	egg
depends on:
interested:	keram kdave
software license:
hardware license:

The aim of this project is to explore the quantum communication and computing, especially quantum cryptography.

1. To design and build a DIY platform for single photon emission and detection; as cheap and simple as possible
2. Photon polarization control and measurements
3. Demonstrating as much as can be done with the hardware: true quantum level pseudo-random number generator, quantum secured communication, error correction codes, …
4. Spotting, exploiting and patching hardware vulnerabilities
5. Finding security bugs and vulnerabilities in quantum physics and patching the universe

“Will argue about particle-wave duality for food.” — txrxlabs

• Status: The founder has left hackerspace, the project is available for adoption.
• TODO: Realistic project proposal

• Source: highly attenuated short-pulsed laser
• Detector: avalanche photodiode, Hamamatsu R3788 Photomultiplier Tube (PMTs) 185-750nm

• http://thevarsity.ca/articles/35567
• Single photon detection using avalanche photodiode, master thesis by Torbjoern Nesheim
• Experiments with single photons , PDF, Philippe Grangier on Séminaire Poincaré, 2005
• Progress Through Photonics, PDF, Winfried Reeb, Laser Components GmbH
• Characteristics and use of Si APD (Avalanche Photodiode), PDF
• Quantum hacking group, Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
• Laboratoř kvantové optiky, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Olomouc
• Společná laboratoř optiky UP a FzÚ AV ČR (by the way, they like open source)
• How we eavesdropped 100% of a quantum cryptographic key by Vadim Makarov