Physical Security and Authentication Systems Using Quantum Signatures

Abstract

Physical identification tags are provided that contain patterns of magnetized and non-magnetized nanoparticles embedded in a matrix. The magnetic nanoparticles form a spatially unique magnetic field distribution that is detectable only with the use of a quantum scanning magnetometer with nanometer resolution. The invisible magnetic field pattern is randomly generated by the mixture of magnetic with nonmagnetic nanoparticles and is physically impossible to reproduce. The tags can be used for identification and authentication of articles of commerce, artworks, and subjects.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.