Course information
Overview
Quantum information and computation have had a profound impact on cryptography, and understanding the connections between them is an active area of research. This course will cover a selection of cutting-edge topics in quantum cryptography, including quantum attacks on classical protocols, provable security against quantum attacks, cryptographic protocols that leverage quantum resources (e.g. quantum key distribution, quantum money, etc.), and connections to quantum complexity theory.
Scribe signup. Please use
this template for scribe notes, and submit them to Max via email.
If you are having difficulties enrolling, please use the ticket system.
Resources
Tentative schedule
Week |
Date |
Topics |
Readings |
Part I: Information-theoretic quantum cryptography |
1 |
Aug 26/28 |
- Intro to quantum information
- Wiesner’s quantum money scheme
- Monogamy of entanglement games
|
Lecture 1 of the MIT course |
2 |
Sep 2/4 |
- Applications of MoE
- BB84 key exchange
|
|
3 |
Sep 9/11 |
BB84 cont. |
|
4 |
Sep 16/18 |
- Quantum state encryption
- Impossibility of information-theoretic quantum bit commitments
|
|
Part II: Post-quantum cryptography |
5 |
Sep 23/25 |
- Intro to classical (post-quantum) cryptography
- Post-quantum (collapsing) bit commitment
- Post-quantum zero knowledge
|
|
6 |
Sep 30/Oct 2 |
- Quantum rewinding
- Post-quantum succinct arguments
|
|
7 |
Oct 7/9 |
The quantum random oracle model |
|
Fall break |
8 |
Oct 16 |
Regev’s reduction |
|
9 |
Oct 21/23 |
Yamakawa-Zhandry |
|
Part III: Quantum cryptography with computational assumptions |
10 |
Oct 28/30 |
Proofs of quantumness |
|
11 |
Nov 4/6 |
Delegating quantum computation |
|
12 |
Nov 11/13 |
- Pseudorandom states (PRS)
- Commitments from PRS
- Separating PRS from all classical crypto
|
|
13 |
Nov 19/21 |
Pseudorandom unitaries (PRU) |
|
14 |
Nov 25 |
Quantum cryptography and black holes |
|
Thanksgiving |
15 |
Dec 2/4 |
Student presentations |
|
Course policies
- Homework: There will be two or three homework assignments. I strongly prefer that you write your assignments in LaTeX. Assignments are to be submitted directly to the TA via email. Additionally, each student will be asked to write scribe notes for two lectures; sign-up here (Cornell authentication required). Please use this template. Scribe notes are due one week after the corresponding class, unless agreed otherwise.
- Project: The final project for this course consists of a write-up and a presentation of a paper or papers related to the course topic.
- Grade: The overall grade will be 30% homework, 20% scribe notes, and 50% final project.
- Collaboration and plagiarism: You are free to discuss assignments with your peers, and use internet and textbook resources. However, all submitted work must be your own, and you must acknowledge any resources that you used. In the final report, you must include appropriate citations. Any instance of plagiarism may be subject to investigation according to University regulations.
- AI assistants: Course policies permit the use of AI assistants. However, you should be careful: AI tools often produce incorrect or unsubstantiated claims. The correctness of submitted work remains your responsibility, as does appropriate citation. In particular, is not adequate to cite an AI tool as a source.
- Participation: Students are expected to attend every meeting of the class (though occasional absences will be excused) and participate in discussions.
- Academic integrity: Absolute integrity is expected of every Cornell student in all academic undertakings; he/she must in no way misrepresent his/her work fraudulently or unfairly advance his/her academic status, or be a party to another student's failure to maintain academic integrity. The maintenance of an atmosphere of academic honor and the fulfillment of the provisions of this Code are the responsibilities of the students and faculty of Cornell University. Therefore, all students and faculty members shall refrain from any action that would violate the basic principles of this Code.
- Religious observance: Cornell University is committed to supporting students who practice their religious beliefs. Please discuss religious absences with me well in advance of the religious holiday (preferably early in the semester, but at least two weeks before the observance) so we can arrange and schedule a reasonable alternative. The Office of Spirituality and Meaning-Making (OSMM) maintains a religious accommodation website with valuable information, including a sample email to request accommodation. If you have any questions, you may contact Joel Harter, Associate Dean of Students for Spirituality and Meaning-Making, or the Office of the Dean of Faculty.
- Disability disclosure: Your access in this course is important to me. Please request your accommodation letter early in the semester, or as soon as you become registered with SDS, so that we have adequate time to arrange your approved academic accommodations. If you experience any access barriers in this course, such as with printed content, graphics, online materials, or any communication barriers; reach out to me or SDS right away. If you need an immediate accommodation, please speak with me after class or send an email message to me and SDS.