In a laboratory at the College of Science, KNUST, a small experimental setup of lasers, sensors and electronic components, is helping to explain one of the most advanced ideas in modern science and that is how quantum technology can secure communication.
Bayulu Yakubu, an MPhil student in Solid State Physics, and team have developed a demonstration system that shows how Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) can be used to generate secure digital keys for communication.
The project was carried out at the Ghana Photonics and Optics Lab (GPOL), which funded the research as part of its efforts to promote practical training and innovation in photonics and quantum science.
Yakubu’s work forms part of a broader international collaboration involving the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) at the University of Waterloo in Canada and the Pearl Sullivan Engineering IDEAs Clinic.
At the heart of the project is a concept that is gaining global attention: using the laws of quantum physics to protect information.
Instead of relying only on complex computer codes, quantum systems can create secret keys that are extremely difficult to intercept without detection.
Yakubu’s experimental setup demonstrates this idea using light signals that represent pieces of information. When two users exchange these signals and make matching measurements, they generate the same secret key. If the measurements do not match, the results are discarded, ensuring that only valid and secure information is kept.
For Yakubu and team, the motivation behind the project was to make an advanced scientific concept easier for students and researchers to understand.
“Many people encounter quantum communication only through theory,” he explained. “This demonstration helps learners see how the process actually works and how secure keys can be generated using quantum principles.”
The Research has already gained recognition within the scientific community. Yakubu’s poster presentation won the Best Poster Award at the recently concluded African International Conference on Quantum Computing and Simulation.
Beyond demonstrating the science, the project also serves as a practical learning platform for students interested in emerging technologies such as quantum computing, photonics and secure communications.
Researchers at GPOL believe such initiatives are important for building capacity in advanced science and technology fields in Ghana. By creating hands-on experimental systems, students can move beyond textbooks and gain direct experience with cutting-edge ideas shaping the future of digital security.
Yakubu’s work also highlights the growing impact of international research partnerships involving KNUST, where collaborations with leading global institutions are helping expand opportunities for training, innovation and knowledge exchange.
As interest in quantum technology continues to grow worldwide, projects like this also demonstrate how local research efforts can contribute to global scientific progress while preparing the next generation of scientists to work at the frontiers of technology.
The team members include Mutala Mohammed Illiasu, Amedzo Bernard John, Michael Kweku Edem Donkor, Akyana Britwum, and Ifeanyi Silas.
