Introduction to quantum cryptography
COM-440 / 6 credits
Teacher: Vidick Thomas Georges Pierre
Language: English
Remark: This course is a « depth » for Cyber Security master program and Cyber Security minor
Summary
This course describes, at a rigorous mathematical level, a range of such tasks, each time identifying the fundamental property of quantum information that makes it possible, its strengths, and its limits.
Content
It has been known since the 1980s that the use of quantum information could enable certain cryptographic tasks, such as quantum money or quantum key distribution, that are impossible classically without making computational assumptions.
- Quantum money: Wiesner's scheme and attacks on it
- The quantum one-time pad
- Entanglement and non-local games
- Quantum key distribution: the BB'84 protocol
- Ekert's protocol and device independence
- Two-party cryptography: bit commitment, oblivious transfer, coin-flipping
- The noisy storage model
- Quantum encryption
- Delegated computation
Learning Prerequisites
Required courses
- An introduction to quantum computation, such as CS-308 Introduction to quantum computation, COM-309 Introduction to quantum information processing or PHYS-541 Quantum computing
Recommended courses
- A course in cryptography such as COM-401 Cryptography and Security can help engage with the material, but is not required
Important concepts to start the course
- Basics of quantum computing, including qubits, density matrices, POVM, quantum gates and circuits
- Discrete mathematics techniques in computer science, such as asymptotic estimates, Chernoff (concentration) bounds
- Algorithmic reasoning
No prior knowledge of cryptography is required, but some familiarity with the principles of quantum information, as well as some background in algorithms or complexity, are highly recommanded.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Design , analyse and show security of cryptographic protocols that make use of quantum information to implement novel tasks with strong security guarantees
- Assess / Evaluate the (theoretical) security of a quantum cryptographic scheme and investigate possible attacks on it
- Learn or solidify your knowledge of quantum computing
Teaching methods
- Ex-cathedra
Expected student activities
- Attend lecture and participate orally
- Perform the required reading and homeworks
Assessment methods
- Homeworks are a combination of small quizzes, problem sets to be solved in small group, and occasional critical reading exercises to be performed alone.
- There will be a midterm and a final exam, which will be similar to problem sets but required to be solved alone.
Supervision
| Office hours | Yes |
| Assistants | Yes |
Resources
Bibliography
Vidick and Wehner, Introduction to Quantum Cryptography, Cambridge University Press, 2023.
Ressources en bibliothèque
Moodle Link
In the programs
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Introduction to quantum cryptography
- Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Introduction to quantum cryptography
- Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Introduction to quantum cryptography
- Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Introduction to quantum cryptography
- Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Introduction to quantum cryptography
- Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Introduction to quantum cryptography
- Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Introduction to quantum cryptography
- Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Introduction to quantum cryptography
- Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Introduction to quantum cryptography
- Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional