quantum cryptography - definition - quantum mechanics

Definition: general term for several systems of securely distributing information over publically accessible channels using quantum mechanics to efficiently generate a provably secure "key" that can be used to unbreakably encode sensitive data. By using the fragile and random quantum states of elementary particles, like photons, quantum cryptography allows a key to be generated by and distributed to seperated parties in a way that allows them to both communicate secretly and also tell with a certainty that approaches perfect if an eavesdropper has attempted to intercept part or all of the key.