Abstract: Quantum key distribution (QKD) allows remote users to establish symmetric keys by using an insecure quantum channel and an authenticated classical channel. While its security has been well established based on fundamental laws in quantum physics, the practicality of QKD is still under debate. In this talk, I will give an overall introduction of QKD, and discuss some practical issues, such as side-channel attacks and the corresponding countermeasures. I will also present our recent works on the feasibility of QKD in packet-switched networks.

Short Bio: Bing Qi is a senior researcher at Cisco Systems. Prior to joining Cisco, he was a senior research scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and a joint faculty associate professor with the Department of Physics and Astronomy, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Qi received a B.S. degree in physics from Nanjing University (China) in 1990, and a Ph.D. degree in optical instruments from Dalian University of Technology (China) in 1996. From 1996 to 1999, he was a postdoctoral researcher at Tsinghua University (China). From 1999 to 2002, he was a visiting scholar at Virginia Tech (USA). From 2002 to 2013, he held various positions as a postdoctoral researcher, a research associate, and a senior research associate with the University of Toronto (Canada). Bing Qi’s current research interests include quantum cryptography and quantum networking.