Seattle Communications (COM-19) Society Chapter

 

Wednesday, February 9, 2005

 

Sponsors:

 

Topic: Quantum Cryptography  

Speaker: Dr Janusz Kowalik

Date/Time:  Date/Time: Wednesday, February 9, 2005, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Location:     University of Washington Seattle Campus

                        EE/CSE Bldg Room 303

Directions:       http://www.ee.washington.edu/directions.html

Map: http://www.washington.edu/home/maps/southcentral.html?101,102,846,688

 

Seminar: Quantum Cryptography  

Speaker: Dr Janusz Kowalik

Abstract:

Quantum Theory has been one of the most accurate tools for predicting and explaining the world of physics. Thanks to this theory we understand semiconductors, nuclear reactors and our universe evolution.  Quantum theory may also help us to solve the Key Distribution Problem which would make information transmission safe.  Currently we use Public Key Encryption/decryption (PKE) systems for transmitting secret /confidential information. Their security is based on the practical unsolvability of some tough  mathematical problems. The most common PKE method is called RSA. RSA  now is safe but it can be invalidated by discovering  new faster algorithms for finding factors of a product of two large primes. It has been shown that a quantum computer can solve the factoring problem in seconds.  In contrast to PKE the quantum cryptography security is based on the properties of quantum physics  that  can’t be violated or changed. Quantum cryptography has been successfully tested  for short distances. Some technical difficulties remain but in principle we could have soon  a perfectly safe method for secret communication for  military, government and business applications.

 

Speaker Biography:

 

Janusz was educated in Poland   and got his PhD in mathematics applied to solving engineering problems. He was the first manager of an industrial computing center in Poland. He came to US in 1967 and started to work for the Boeing Company Computing Division. Since 1967 he managed at Boeing several organizations: numerical analysis, simulation, artificial intelligence and distributed computing design. His Boeing tenure was interrupted for ten years from 1974-1983  when he was a Professor of mathematics and computer science at Washington State University.  In 2002 Janusz retired from Boeing and now he is lecturing at several universities in Italy and Poland.