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Syllabus

Since this is an experimental course the syllabus is subject to change. Below is its rough summary.

Quantum Cryptography

Weeks 1/2/3/4: Quantum tools and a first cryptographic protocol

  • Qubits
  • Density matrices
  • Measurements
  • Partial trace
  • Secure message transmission
  • Classical and quantum one-time pad

Weeks 5/6: The power of entanglement

  • Introduction to entanglement
  • Purifications
  • Secret sharing
  • Bell nonlocality
  • The monogamy of entanglement

Week 7/8: Quantifying information

  • Measures of closeness of two quantum states: trace distance and fidelity
  • Measures of uncertainty: von Neumann and min- entropies
  • Uncertainty principle as a guessing game

Week 9/10: Distributing keys and quantum key distribution protocols

  • Secure key distribution
  • Information reconciliation
  • The BB84 quantum key distribution protocol
  • Purifying protocols using entanglement
  • Security from tripartite uncertainty relations

Week 11: Quantum cryptography using untrusted devices

  • Testing devices using a Bell experiment
  • Device independent quantum key distribution

Week 12/13: Quantum cryptography beyond quantum key distribution

  • Coin flipping
  • Bit commitment
  • Oblivious transfer
  • Position verification