EAGER: Exploiting Quantum Tunneling for Zero Side-Channel Key Generation and Distribution

该项目正在研究一种密钥生成和密钥分发框架，该框架没有任何实际的侧通道，攻击者可以利用这些侧通道窃听私人通信或私人数据。随着计算能力的不断提高和可操作量子计算机成为现实的可能性，经典公钥分发算法的脆弱性是一个主要问题。虽然基于量子的密钥分发可以潜在地解决与经典密钥分发技术相关的一些安全漏洞，但当前最先进的量子密钥分发系统需要专用的和专门的点对点通信链路。与经典方法相比，这些链路不仅需要仔细维护和校准以确保量子相干性，而且这些系统不便携，不能用于公共或不安全通道上的密钥分发。该项目还将为REU学生和属于量子器件，电路设计和网络安全等跨学科领域的代表性不足社区的学生提供良好的培训机会。我们计划组织一个特别的网络安全研讨会，我们的目标是向研究人员、从业人员和工业合作伙伴展示自供电计时技术。提出的密钥生成和密钥分发框架利用了我们之前报道的基于量子隧道物理原理的自供电计时设备的同步能力和安全特性。在量子货币和量子密钥交换协议的背景下，使用一组同步计时器来模拟相位同步光子的功能。量子隧穿和自供电操作的物理特性确保了对手无法利用任何电源或电磁侧信道来探测计时器的状态。1. 该项目正在研究一种自供电锁相和同步原理，结合了Fowler-Nordheim量子隧穿电子和频谱噪声整形的物理原理。该项目还在研究限制访问内部计时器状态的方法，该计时器状态在一次测量后会自毁。通过这种方式，计时器的状态不能被反向工程。2. 该项目正在研究一种片上系统架构，该架构将利用自供电计时器之间的同步来生成可用于通信和计算的密钥。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The project is investigating a key generation and a key distribution framework that is devoid of any practical side-channels that an adversary could exploit into eavesdrop into private communications or private data. With continual advancements in computing power and the possibility of an operational quantum computer becoming a reality, the vulnerability of classical public-key distribution algorithms is a major concern. While quantum-based key distribution can potentially address some of the security vulnerabilities associated with classic key distribution techniques, the current state-of-the-art quantum key-distribution systems require dedicated and specialized peer-to-peer communication links. Not only do these links require careful maintenance and calibration to ensure quantum-coherence, compared to classical approaches, these systems are not portable and cannot be used for key distribution over public or unsecured channels. This project will also provide excellent training opportunities for REU students and students belonging to underrepresented communities in the interdisciplinary fields of quantum devices, circuit design, and cybersecurity. We plan to organize a special cybersecurity workshop where our goal will be to showcase the self-powered time-keeping technology to researchers, practitioners and industrial partners.The proposed key generation and key distribution framework is exploiting the synchronization capability and the security features of our previously reported self-powered time-keeping devices that operate on the physics of quantum-tunneling. An array of synchronized timers is used to emulate the functionality of phase-synchronized photons in the context of quantum currency and quantum key-exchange protocols. The physics of quantum-tunneling and self-powered operation ensures that no power or electromagnetic side-channel can be exploited by an adversary to probe the state of the timers. 1. The project is investigating a self-powered phase-locking and synchronization principle combining the physics of Fowler-Nordheim quantum-tunneling of electrons with spectral noise-shaping. The project is also investigating methods to restrict access to the internal timer-state which will self-destruct after a single measurement. In this manner, the state of the timers cannot be reverse engineered. 2. The project is investigating a system-on-chip architecture will exploit the synchronization between self-powered timers to generate keys that can be used for communications and computing.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.