Quantum position verification: from quantum cryptography to quantum gravity

ABSTRACT

Is it possible to remotely verify someone’s location by only sending signals? Secure position verification is classically impossible due to general spoofing attacks, but becomes possible with quantum physics. The unclonability of quantum information and the uncertainty principle give rise to quantum position verification (QPV) protocols that can mitigate spoofing attacks and securely certify an agent’s location.

In this talk I will give an overview of quantum position verification and some visions of its cryptographic applications. Furthermore I will describe the surprising connections between QPV and deep questions in quantum information theory, theoretical computer science, and quantum gravity.

BIOGRAPHY

Henry Yuen is the Srivani Family Associate Professor of Computer Science at Columbia University. His research focuses on the interplay between quantum computing, complexity theory, cryptography, and information theory. Yuen received a BA in mathematics from the University of Southern California in 2010, and received his PhD in computer science at MIT in 2016. He is a recipient of the NSF CAREER award and a Sloan Fellowship.