title: Secure communication using mesoscopic coherent states.
abstract: We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally that secure communication using intermediate-energy (mesoscopic) coherent states is possible. Our scheme is different from previous quantum cryptographic schemes in that a short secret key is explicitly used and in which quantum noise hides both the bit and the key. This encryption scheme allows optical amplification. New avenues are open to secure communications at high speeds in fiber-optic or free-space channels.
authors.affiliation: Center for Photonic Communication and Computing, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
authors.forename: Geraldo A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corndorf
authors.forename: Prem
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Horace P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Yuen