QUANTUM CRYPTOGRAPHIC PROTOCOLS FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION

Quantum Cryptography offers a secure method of sharing sequences of random numbers tobe used as cryptographic keys. It can potentially eliminate many of the weaknesses of classicalcryptographic methods. In this paper, we survey some results in quantum cryptography. After a briefintroduction to classical cryptography, some fundamental quantum key distribution protocols arereviewed. The issue of security both from theoretical as well as real life point of view is alsoaddressed. Finally we point out some noteworthy recent advances and some important remainingchallenges