Dr Stef Roux believes that free space
quantum communications could put South
Africa on the global telecoms map.
(Image: CSIR)
Quantum communication is more secure
than fibre-optic cable, because any
tapping can easily be detected.
(Image: stock.xchng)
MEDIA CONTACTS
• Dr Stef Roux
Principal researcher and project leader
CSIR National Laser Centre
+27 12 841 2823
RELATED ARTICLES
• SA laser physicist wins top honour
• SA hosts world science meet
• Mobile opportunities in Africa
• Africa’s telecoms growth potential
• Telkom secures R902m loan
Shamin Chibba
For some, talk of lasers and quantum physics immediately conjures images from our favourite science fiction movies. But one South African is turning what many people still perceive as fantasy into a reality.
Dr Stef Roux, a researcher and project leader at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s National Laser Centre, is looking to pioneer free space quantum communication, a technology that transmits optical signals through the air using the quantum properties of laser light.
According to Roux, this technology will provide a much safer means of communicating. He added that the point is to communicate by line of sight, from one tower to another, using light.
Roux stated that quantum communication is safer than fibre-optic cables because the latter can be tapped and tampered with, whereas with quantum communication such behaviour can be easily detected.
“In terms of application it will help secure communication. And with online ID theft and fraud, there’s a big challenge to find more secure communication.”
The 47-year-old believes South Africa should act quickly in taking the initiative to develop this technology so that the country can become a global communications role player. He said that in a number of countries, funding and research into this technology is a high priority.
“If we in South Africa jump on this bandwagon and make a significant contribution, it will have a huge impact for the country and position us as a key role player for this technology in the world,” said Roux.
Quantum communications still in its infancy
Roux, who holds doctorates in both electronic engineering and theoretical particle physics, has a passion for optics and particle physics, which is pushing him to advance in the project.
A year in, Roux and his team have progressed far enough to have drawn up theoretical results. However, the practical aspect of the project is still in its infancy and there are challenges in getting the technology to work.
Roux said that the team is still in the process of attaining a proper laser and to achieve stable entanglement. This is a concept of quantum mechanics that describes the action of a pair or group of particles when they behave like one object but remain as individuals.
Quantum entanglement involves photons, or elementary particles, of light which, in the lab, are set up so that when one is manipulated, the others will be affected no matter how far apart they are.
This relates to how senders and receivers will realise that someone is trying to eavesdrop on their communication.
Roux has discovered that the entangled particles are very precarious and that entanglement cannot be retained, especially when the atmosphere is turbulent as this causes the particles to de-cohere. He and his team are currently researching how to mitigate these effects.
Collaborating with universities
Roux hopes to advance the experimental stage soon through collaboration with three universities. He is currently working on the project with the University of KwaZulu-Natal, but will visit Canada’s University of Ottawa in the third quarter of the year to learn more about their findings.
He is also looking to collaborate with the University of Freiburg in Germany.
Roux said the experts at these universities have already established basic experiments to implement the technology and that he can gain valuable experience that would help him with his own experiments.
But if you are expecting to be using this technology soon, look for alternatives in the meantime. According to Roux, no definite date can be set for its availability to the public, as it may take up to a decade to finally turn it into a workable technology.
He also stated that for the technology to grow, it will need protocols and infrastructure.
STYLE–>
South Africa’s Dr Stef Roux, an electrical engineer and theoretical physicist, is pioneering a technology that transmits signals using the quantum properties of laser light and will allow users to transmit sensitive data in a secure environment.
A scientist pioneers communication technology
Shamin Chibba
For some, talk of lasers and quantum physics immediately conjures images from our favourite science fiction movies. But one South African is turning what many people still perceive as fantasy into a reality.
Dr Stef Roux, a researcher and project leader at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s National Laser Centre, is looking to pioneer free space quantum communication, a technology that transmits optical signals through the air using the quantum properties of laser light.
According to Roux, this technology will provide a much safer means of communicating. He added that the point is to communicate through the atmosphere from one tower to another by using light.
Roux stated that quantum communication is safer than fibre-optic cables because the latter can be tapped and tampered with, whereas with quantum communication such behaviour can be easily detected.
“In terms of application it will help secure communication. And with online ID theft and fraud, there’s a big challenge to find more secure communication.”
The 47-year-old believes South Africa should act quickly in taking the initiative to develop this technology so that the country can become a global communications role player. He said that in a number of countries, funding and research into this technology is a high priority.
“If we in South Africa jump on this bandwagon and make a significant contribution, it will have a huge impact for the country and position us as a key role player for this technology in the world,” said Roux.
Quantum communications still in its infancy
Roux, who holds doctorates in both electronic engineering and theoretical particle physics, has a passion for optics and particle physics, which is pushing him to advance in the project.
A year in, already Roux has progressed far enough to have drawn up the theory of quantum communications. However, the practical aspect of the project is still in its infancy and there are challenges in getting the technology to work.
Roux said that the team is still in the process of attaining a proper laser and to achieve stable entanglement. This is a concept of quantum mechanics that describes the action of a pair or group of particles when they behave like one object but remain as individuals.
Quantum entanglement involves photons of light which, in the lab, are set so that when one is manipulated, the others will be affected even if they are far apart.
This relates to how senders and receivers will realise that someone is trying to tamper with their communication.
Roux has discovered that the entangled particles are very precarious and that entanglement cannot be retained. He and his team are currently researching how to retain it.
He referred to the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, which is already using a quantum cryptography system to communicate but without quantum entanglements.
Collaborating with universities
Roux is looking to advance the experimental stage soon by collaborating with three universities. He will visit the University of Ottawa in Canada in the third quarter of the year to learn more about their findings.
He is also looking to collaborate with the University of Freiburg in Germany as well as the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Roux said the experts at these universities have already established basic experiments to implement the technology and that he can gain valuable experience that would help him with his own experiments.
But if you are expecting to be using this technology soon, look for alternatives in the meantime. According to Roux, no definite date can be set for its availability for public usage, as it may take up to a decade to finally turn it into a workable technology.
He also stated that for the technology to grow, it will need protocols and infrastructure.
Related stories
SKA on the African horizon
/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2193:ska-030211&catid=48:innovationnews&Itemid=115
Mobile internet booms in SA
Mobile networks in tower sharing deal
/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2117:mtn-cellc-201210&catid=45:economynews&Itemid=114
SA hosts world science meet
Media Contacts
Dr Stef Roux
Principal researcher and project leader
CSIR National Laser Centre
Tel: 012 841 2823
Email: fsroux@csir.co.za
Mzimasi Gcukumana
Strategic Communications and Stakeholder Relation Manager
CSIR
Tel: 012 841 2911
Email: MGcukumana@csir.co.za
