QSA Technology supplies silicon‑nitride photonic chips that embed a physical unclonable function (PUF) to generate a unique optical fingerprint for each device, enabling zero‑knowledge, quantum‑resistant authentication without stored keys. The solution integrates with fiber, free‑space, and satellite optical links, delivering sub‑microsecond verification latency and native compatibility with Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems for telecom, aerospace, and industrial IoT applications.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Current authentication schemes for optical communication rely on stored secrets such as passwords or cryptographic keys, which are vulnerable to cloning, spoofing, and future quantum attacks. Network operators and critical‑infrastructure providers lack a hardware‑based, quantum‑resistant method to verify device identities at line speed. This gap limits the deployment of secure optical and free‑space links in emerging quantum‑ready environments.
Solution
QSA Technology delivers silicon‑nitride photonic chips that embed a Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) to generate a unique optical interference pattern each time light traverses the device. The resulting photonic fingerprint serves as an immutable hardware identity that can be measured and validated without any stored secret, providing intrinsic resistance to cloning and quantum decryption. The chips are designed for seamless insertion into existing fiber, free‑space, and satellite optical links, enabling real‑time authentication of endpoints and complementing Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) protocols. Verification is performed via a lightweight optical interrogation module and a secure verification API, delivering sub‑microsecond latency suitable for high‑throughput networks. Production leverages proven silicon‑nitride foundry processes, ensuring scalable, cost‑effective manufacturing while maintaining tamper‑evident physical security. By grounding trust in the laws of physics rather than software, QSA’s solution creates a quantum‑resilient authentication layer for telecom, aerospace, automotive, and industrial IoT ecosystems.
Target Audience
Primary customers are telecom operators, network equipment manufacturers, and satellite/free‑space optical communication providers seeking quantum‑resistant endpoint authentication, as well as critical‑infrastructure and industrial IoT integrators requiring tamper‑proof hardware identity.
Features
- Silicon‑nitride photonic chip integrating a PUF that produces a non‑reproducible optical fingerprint on each interrogation
- Zero‑knowledge verification protocol with no stored keys or passwords, eliminating software‑based attack vectors
- Compatibility with fiber‑optic, free‑space, and satellite optical links; supports seamless retro‑fit into legacy infrastructure
- Native integration hooks for QKD systems, providing hardware‑level identity assurance alongside quantum‑generated keys
- High‑speed optical interrogation module delivering sub‑microsecond authentication latency for line‑rate traffic
- Scalable wafer‑level fabrication through LioniX foundry, leveraging mature CMOS‑compatible photonic processes
- Tamper‑evident chip design that detects physical intrusion attempts and invalidates the fingerprint
- Secure API and SDK for automated fingerprint enrollment, verification, and audit logging in network management platforms