Fighting Counterfeiters With Quantum Money 149
the_newsbeagle writes "This article discusses a proposal to create cash that can't be counterfeited by embedding quantum particles in banknotes. A counterfeiter trying to copy a real bill would have to precisely measure all the attributes of the embedded quantum particles — which is impossible under the tricky laws of quantum mechanics (PDF). MIT computer scientist Scott Aaronson, who famously offered a prize for anyone who could prove quantum computers are impossible, said, 'This is science fiction, but it’s science fiction that doesn’t violate any of the known laws of physics.'"
Re:Make American dollars more sophisticated (Score:5, Informative)
This is a list of all the anti-counterfeiting measures in US currency. People still take fake bills because they just don't bother to check.
Fiber Embedded Paper. The paper used to print our currency has tiny threads of fibers embedded into the paper. If the bill has no tiny fibers of red and blur embedded into the paper, it is probably a fake bill. Embedding fibers into the paper is one of anti-counterfeiting measures used to make it harder to make fake currency.
Border Scroll. On the edges of a bill are fine lines in a scroll shape. The thin, fine lines are sharp and clear on an authentic bill. If you try to use a scanner and printer on your home computer to print your own money, the border art will appear blurry and the lines will run together.
Security Thread. A security thread is embedded into the paper money and runs from the top to the bottom of the bill. It is printed with the currency amount. When held over an ultraviolet light the security thread will glow red. The security thread is one of the ten anti-counterfeiting measures that work the best to stop people from making fake money and devaluing our currency.
Color Shifting Ink. On the $100 bill, a color shifting ink made with metallic flakes is used. On the $100 logo, the ink color will shift from black to green depending on the angle you are holding the bill.
Microprinting. Microprinting involves printing in such a tiny font that it simply appears as solid lines but when viewed under magnification you can read the printing. Microprinting is an ant-counterfeiting measure that makes it extremely hard, if not impossible, for the average person to print fake money at home.
Serial Numbers. Printing serial numbers on currency makes it harder for counterfeiters to forge fake money. In a large batch of fake currency, the counterfeiters may be forced to use the same serial number on all the bills making it easier to spot the fake bills. On fake bills, the serial numbers may not be evenly spaced or sized which is a dead give away that the bill is fake.
Watermark. A watermark is embedded into the paper during the actual process of printing the paper. A watermark is very hard if not impossible for most counterfeiters to accurately replicate. A watermark is one of the ten anti-counterfeiting measures used to easily distinguish real currency from fake currency.
Paper Color. The Yellow and Greenish colored hues used paper money makes bills hard to duplicate at home. A counterfeiter will have a hard time trying to duplicate the color scheme of an actual bill.