NTT devised a security method that enables cryptographically secure program obfuscation for more general-purpose quantum circuits in its research on obfuscation related to quantum circuits. 

A quantum circuit is a circuit model for performing desired quantum calculations by combining quantum gates that change the state of quantum bits.

This result shows that program obfuscation for the quantum circuit of Shor’s prime factorization algorithm, which is well known as an example of the superiority of quantum computers, is also possible. This achievement is expected to contribute to the prevention of unauthorized analysis of programs in the world of quantum computing by expanding the range of quantum circuits that can be obfuscated, leading to the protection of intellectual property.