Quantum fingerprinting
Encyclopedia
Quantum fingerprinting is a proposed technique that uses a quantum computer
to generate a string with a similar function to the cryptographic hash function
.
If unconditional guarantees of security are needed, and if it is impractical for the communicating parties to arrange to share a secret that can be used in a Carter–Wegman MAC, this technique might one day be faster than classical techniques given a quantum computer
with 5 to 10 qubit
s. However, these circumstances are very unusual and it is unlikely the technique will ever have a practical application; it is largely of theoretical interest.
Quantum computer
A quantum computer is a device for computation that makes direct use of quantum mechanical phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform operations on data. Quantum computers are different from traditional computers based on transistors...
to generate a string with a similar function to the cryptographic hash function
Cryptographic hash function
A cryptographic hash function is a deterministic procedure that takes an arbitrary block of data and returns a fixed-size bit string, the hash value, such that an accidental or intentional change to the data will change the hash value...
.
If unconditional guarantees of security are needed, and if it is impractical for the communicating parties to arrange to share a secret that can be used in a Carter–Wegman MAC, this technique might one day be faster than classical techniques given a quantum computer
Quantum computer
A quantum computer is a device for computation that makes direct use of quantum mechanical phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform operations on data. Quantum computers are different from traditional computers based on transistors...
with 5 to 10 qubit
Qubit
In quantum computing, a qubit or quantum bit is a unit of quantum information—the quantum analogue of the classical bit—with additional dimensions associated to the quantum properties of a physical atom....
s. However, these circumstances are very unusual and it is unlikely the technique will ever have a practical application; it is largely of theoretical interest.