Secure Timing in Quantum Networks

Abstract

Quantum Time Transfer (QTT) uses entangled photon pairs to synchronize distant clocks with precision potentially exceeding classical methods. While QTT offers inherent protection against certain attacks due to the quantum nature of the signals, vulnerabilities remain, particularly related to asymmetric delay. An asymmetric delay attack is where an adversary delays quantum signals in only one direction. This talk introduces a three-node quantum network topology that enables detection of such asymmetric delay attacks through closure relations, analogous to techniques used in geodetic VLBI. I will discuss the physical layer of quantum networks, the fundamentals of QTT, and present ongoing work on methods for detecting timing attacks on distributed quantum systems.

Biography

Nicholas R. Allgood is an NRC Postdoctoral Fellow at the Air Force Research laboratory, where he researches quantum networking and time-transfer protocols. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a focus on quantum algorithms. Nick has over five years of teaching experience in quantum algorithms, computer architecture, linear algebra, computer organization and assembly, operating systems, and classical and quantum networks. His research interests include quantum networking, quantum computation and algorithms, quantum network security and the mathematical foundations of distributed quantum systems.