# User Guide: Topological Quantum Computer SHA-520 Research Repo This repository is a staged research implementation for studying a hypothetical Fibonacci-anyon topological quantum computer and its use as a simulation target for SHA-520-style reduced-round cryptanalysis experiments. It is not a physical quantum computer, not a production cryptanalysis tool, and not a claim that SHA-512 or SHA-3 are broken. ## What This Repository Is The repo combines four layers: | Layer | Purpose | Evidence status | | --- | --- | --- | | Lean 4 formalization | Fibonacci anyon and braid-theory proof surface | Stubbed; Lake project config still required | | Python classical model | SHA-520-r reference and classical complexity baselines | Syntax-valid; runtime smoke tests required | | Python quantum model | Reversible SHA-520 oracle and Grover resource estimates | Framework-level; placeholders remain | | Experiment scripts | Four-phase validation pipeline | Runnable after environment setup; some phases are estimate-only | `SHA-520` is the repository's research label. The current `python/classical/sha520_ref.py` implementation returns a 65-byte, 520-bit digest using the explicit arrays in `python/qlambda/arrays.py`. It is still a repository-defined research construction, not a NIST SHA standard. ## Setup Run from the repository root: ```bash cd C:\Users\jessi\Desktop\topological-quantum-computer python -m venv .venv .venv\Scripts\activate python -m pip install -e . ``` Optional simulator dependencies: ```bash python -m pip install ".[quantum,simulation]" ``` Lean is required only for the formal layer: ```bash cd lean lake build ``` Current audit note: `lean/` needs a `lakefile.lean` or `lakefile.toml` before `lake build` can serve as a real Lean gate. ## CORTO Analysis Use this repo with the CORTO frame: Claims, Objectives, Risks, Tests, Outputs. | Area | Repo meaning | | --- | --- | | Claims | Topological compilation can be modeled; Grover-style search remains the prior-art quantum bound for generic preimage search | | Objectives | Build a falsifiable simulation and documentation harness, not a deployed attack | | Risks | Overstating placeholder simulations, confusing SHA-520 with NIST SHA, or treating Lean stubs as closed proofs | | Tests | Python syntax/import checks, Phase 1 reference checks, optional Qiskit simulation, resource-estimate comparison, Lean build | | Outputs | JSON experiment reports, resource tables, braid-count estimates, and audit notes | ## Algorithms in Scope | Algorithm or model | Role in repo | Boundary | | --- | --- | --- | | Classical brute force | Baseline preimage search | Reduced output sizes only | | Birthday collision search | Classical collision baseline | Toy/reduced targets only | | Grover search | Quantum preimage baseline | No full-scale real-world attack | | BHT collision search | Prior-art quantum collision reference | Documentation comparison only | | Topological amplitude estimation | Topological-gate framing of amplitude methods | Not claimed as a new asymptotic break | | Fibonacci anyon braid compilation | Topological gate model | Theoretical; no hardware construction | | Solovay-Kitaev compilation | Gate-to-braid approximation model | Resource estimate, not measured hardware evidence | ## Running the Audit Checks Read-only syntax checks: ```bash python -c "import ast,pathlib; files=[p for r in [pathlib.Path('python'),pathlib.Path('experiments')] for p in r.rglob('*.py')]; [ast.parse(p.read_text(encoding='utf-8'), filename=str(p)) for p in files]; print('PYTHON_SYNTAX_OK', len(files), 'files')" python -c "import pathlib,tomllib; tomllib.loads(pathlib.Path('pyproject.toml').read_text(encoding='utf-8')); print('PYPROJECT_TOML_OK')" git diff --check ``` Runtime smoke checks: ```bash python -c "import sys; sys.path.insert(0, 'python'); import classical, quantum, simulators; print('IMPORT_OK')" python experiments\phase1_classical_validation.py python experiments\phase2_quantum_simulation.py python experiments\phase3_resource_validation.py python experiments\phase4_topological_compilation.py ``` Lean gate: ```bash cd lean lake build ``` Do not mark the repo production-ready until the runtime checks and Lean gate match the status claimed in `BUILD_STATUS.md`. ## Prior-Art and Novelty Boundaries This repository should be positioned as an integration and falsification framework over known quantum-computing ideas, not as a claim of first discovery of those ideas. Prior art that should be acknowledged: - Grover search gives the generic quadratic search speedup for unstructured search: [Grover 1996](https://doi.org/10.1145/237814.237866). - Tight bounds on Grover-style quantum search are prior art: [Boyer, Brassard, Hoyer, Tapp 1998](https://doi.org/10.1002/%28SICI%291521-3978%28199806%2946%3A4/5%3C493%3A%3AAID-PROP493%3E3.0.CO%3B2-P). - Amplitude amplification and estimation are prior art: [Brassard, Hoyer, Mosca, Tapp](https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0005055). - Anyon-based fault-tolerant computation is prior art: [Kitaev 2003](https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-4916%2802%2900018-0). - Density/universality results for Jones braid representations are prior art: [Freedman, Larsen, Wang 2002](https://doi.org/10.1007/s002200200636). - Solovay-Kitaev compilation overhead is prior art: [Dawson and Nielsen 2006](https://doi.org/10.26421/QIC6.1-6). - NIST Secure Hash Standard names and SHA-512 status come from [FIPS 180-4](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.FIPS.180-4). Novelty claims should therefore be limited to this repository's specific combination of Lean proof surfaces, SHA-520-r simulation harness, Q-Lambda DSL, array manifests, resource auditing, and topological-compilation documentation. ## Safety Boundary Allowed: - reduced-round experiments, - toy-output preimage/collision tests, - theoretical braid compilation, - resource estimation, - documentation and formalization. Forbidden: - full-round cryptanalysis against real systems, - key recovery attempts, - physical hardware construction, - claims that SHA-512, SHA-3, or NIST hash standards are broken, - publishing placeholder simulation output as measured evidence.