MIT's breakthrough quantum algorithm can crack encryption easily
A team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has made a significant breakthrough in quantum computing. The team, led by Vinod Vaikuntanathan and graduate student Seyoon Ragavan, has created an innovative algorithm that could potentially enable quantum computers to swiftly decrypt advanced encryption methods. This development underscores the urgent need for new encryption techniques that can withstand potential quantum attacks.
The algorithm focuses on quantum factoring
The primary focus of the MIT research is to improve the practicality of quantum factoring, a process that can potentially render widely-used encryption systems such as RSA ineffective. RSA encryption, a fundamental component of digital communication, derives its security from the inherent difficulty for classical computers to factorize large numbers. However, quantum computers have the theoretical capacity to perform this factorization at much faster speeds due to their unique principles of quantum mechanics.
Quantum computers face challenges in factorizing large numbers
Quantum computers are not without their challenges, particularly when it comes to noise and resource constraints. A quantum circuit attempting to factor a large number would have to execute multiple runs, carrying out operations that include calculating powers such as 2 raised to the 100th power. However, computing these large powers is expensive and difficult on a quantum computer due to their ability to only perform reversible operations.
MIT researchers devise a method to calculate exponents
The MIT researchers have devised a method to calculate exponents using a series of Fibonacci numbers. This technique only requires simple multiplication, which is reversible, instead of squaring. It also necessitates just two quantum memory units to calculate any exponent. Vaikuntanathan explained the process as "kind of like a ping-pong game, where we start with a number and then bounce back and forth, multiplying between two quantum memory registers."
The team also addressed the issue of quantum gate errors
In addition to memory constraints, quantum computers also face challenges due to errors introduced by quantum gates. The MIT team tackled this problem by using a technique that filters out corrupt results, ensuring only correct ones are processed. "The end-result is a circuit that is significantly more memory-efficient. Plus, their error correction technique would make the algorithm more practical to deploy," stated the press release from MIT about this breakthrough research.
Implementation on actual quantum hardware remains a future goal
Despite the significant progress made by the MIT team, implementing their breakthrough algorithm on actual quantum hardware remains a future goal. Current quantum computers lack the necessary capabilities to execute such complex algorithms. However, as Oded Regev from New York University noted, this work "brings quantum factoring algorithms closer to reality."
