
Polarity:Mixed/Knife-edge
Implementing Shor's Algorithm: Breaking RSA Encryption
March 8, 2026Dr. quantum Chen, Quantum Algorithms Researcher2 min read
Visual Variations
fast sdxl
stable cascade
Shor's algorithm factors large integers exponentially faster than classical computers, breaking RSA encryption.
Algorithm Overview
def shors_algorithm(N):
"""
Factor N = p × q
Classical: O(exp(n^1/3)) - exponential
Quantum: O(n^3) - polynomial
For RSA-2048: Classical = billions of years, Quantum = hours
"""
# 1. Choose random a < N
a = random.randint(2, N-1)
# 2. Quantum period finding (the magic step)
r = quantum_period_finding(a, N) # Needs quantum computer!
# 3. Classical post-processing
if r % 2 == 0:
p = gcd(a^(r/2) - 1, N)
q = N // p
return p, q
else:
return shors_algorithm(N) # Retry
def quantum_period_finding(a, N):
"""The quantum subroutine - requires quantum computer."""
# Create superposition
qc = QuantumCircuit(n_qubits)
qc.h(range(n_qubits))
# Modular exponentiation (a^x mod N)
qc.append(modular_exp_gate(a, N), range(n_qubits))
# Quantum Fourier Transform
qc.append(qft(n_qubits), range(n_qubits))
# Measure to get period
qc.measure_all()
return extract_period(execute(qc).result())
Click to examine closelyWith surface codes (distance=7): ~200,000 physical qubits
Resource Requirements
def estimate_shors_resources(rsa_bits):
"""
Estimate quantum resources to break RSA.
RSA-2048: ~4000 logical qubits, 10^12 gates
With surface codes (distance=7): ~200,000 physical qubits
"""
logical_qubits = 2 * rsa_bits
gates = rsa_bits ** 3
physical_qubits = logical_qubits * 49 # Distance-7 surface code
return {
'logical_qubits': logical_qubits,
'gates': gates,
'physical_qubits': physical_qubits,
'runtime_hours': gates / (10**9), # 1 GHz gate speed
}
print(estimate_shors_resources(2048))
# {'logical_qubits': 4096, 'physical_qubits': 200704, 'runtime_hours': 8.6}
Click to examine closely
Timeline ⚠️
- 2024: 1000 physical qubits (too small)
- 2026: 10,000 qubits (break RSA-1024)
- 2028-2030: 100,000+ qubits (break RSA-2048)
- 2032: 1M qubits (break RSA-4096)
Migration urgency: Assume all encrypted data with >10 year secrecy requirement will be vulnerable.
Related Chronicles: Quantum Cloud Breach (2053)
Code: Qiskit Shor's