Schnorr

Schnorr commonly refers to Claus-Peter Schnorr, a German mathematician and cryptographer known for his contributions to cryptography and number theory. In cryptography, he is best known for the Schnorr identification protocol, a zero-knowledge proof of knowledge of a discrete logarithm in a cyclic group, and the Schnorr signature, a digital signature scheme obtained by applying the Fiat–Shamir transform to the identification protocol. The construction emphasizes efficiency and security based on the discrete logarithm problem.

The protocol and signatures rely on chosen group parameters such as prime-order subgroups; the class of Schnorr groups provides a framework for such protocols. His work has influenced modern cryptography, including efficient signatures, public-key protocols, and formalized proofs of security.

Schnorr has held academic positions at German universities and research institutions, and his publications have had a lasting impact on the study of cryptography and computational number theory.