Gilles Brassard

Gilles Brassard is a computer scientist at the Université de Montréal and an early pioneer of quantum information. His research helped show how properties of quantum mechanics could be used to distribute cryptographic keys and study information processing.

Security relevance

With Charles H. Bennett, Brassard developed the protocol widely known as BB84. It remains a foundational reference for quantum key distribution and for thinking about security guarantees rooted in physical principles.

Timeline

• 1979Completes a Ph.D. in cryptography at Cornell University and joins Université de Montréal.
• 1984Co-authors the BB84 quantum-key-distribution protocol with Charles H. Bennett.
• 1993Co-authors the paper introducing quantum teleportation.
• 2018Shares the Wolf Prize in Physics for quantum-information work.