Cryptography with stochastic photons

Abstract

Abstract Quantum cryptography protocols are based on the use of quantum objects with at least two orthogonal states, for example, the polarization states of a photon. We propose a completely different cryptography protocol using a stochastic flow of single photons. Our method is based on the stochastic decay of an ensemble of radioactive nuclei randomly emitting a stream of γ-photons. We have experimentally demonstrated the transmission of classical information containing binary bits. Reading this information requires precise knowledge of the repetition rate of its sending. Otherwise, it is impossible to make the transmitted information visible, since it will be lost in the noise.