Cryptography in a Quantum World
February 14-17, 2021
School Overview
The development of quantum computers has accelerated rapidly in the last few years, with huge investments from governments and corporations. These developments are already changing the face of cryptography, a trend that is only expected to increase.
On one hand, the security threats posed by quantum adversaries are not only greater but are also qualitatively different from those posed by classical ones. This is due to quantum phenomena such as superposition and entanglement. This requires rethinking our security models toward a post-quantum world where quantum adversaries are to be considered. On the other hand, quantum phenomena such as unclonability open the door for new quantum-cryptographic applications, some of which (such as quantum key-distribution) are already possible with the current level of technology.
The 11th BIU winter school on cryptography aims to provide an introduction to quantum cryptography. The program will include topics such as the definition and use of basic cryptographic tools in a quantum world, quantum key distribution, the quantum random oracle model, delegation of quantum computation, and classical and quantum protocols with post-quantum security. A “crash-course” on quantum computing will also be included. The school will not cover the topic of post-quantum assumptions, i.e. the hardness of specific cryptographic assumptions (e.g. factoring, LWE) against quantum computers will not be discussed.
The program aims to give a taste of key topics in the area, focusing on the basics, rather than the state of the art. We expect the audience to already have knowledge on foundations of cryptography (one-way functions, pseudorandomness, public-key encryption, zero-knowledge, security reductions), as well as linear algebra. While we will include a crash-course on quantum computing, prior knowledge on the matter will also be helpful (although not necessary). We aim the school mostly at cryptographers, first and foremost students and postdocs, but also faculty.
School Lecturers
- Rotem Arnon-Friedman, Weizmann Institute of Science
- Alex Grilo – CNRS / Sorbonne Université
- Thomas Vidick – California Institute of Technology
- Henry Yuen – Columbia University
- Mark Zhandry – Princeton University & NTT Research
Additional Information
Organizers: Nir Bitansky, Tel Aviv University’s School of Computer Science, Zvika Brakerski, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Carmit Hazay, Faculty of Engineering, Bar-Ilan University and Benny Pinkas , Department of Computer Science, Bar-Ilan University, Israel.
Where: Due to the COVID pandemic, the school will be held online via Zoom.
When: Sunday, February 14, 2021 to Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Registration: Participation is for registered users only, and is free of charge. Only those who applied for the school and were confirmed by the organizers will be considered registered and receive updates and links to lectures. Please apply for participation here.
The deadline for applications is February 7, 2021
Useful background Materials
Online sources with relevant quantum basics:
School Program
Sunday, February 14 – Overview + Crash Course
13:45-14:00 Benny Pinkas: Opening Remarks
14:00-15:00 Nir Bitansky & Zvika Brakerski: School Overview (Slides) (Video)
15:00-16:00 Break
16:00-17:00 Henry Yuen: Crash Course – part 1 (Slides) (Annotated Slides) (Video 1A) (Video 1B)
17:00-17:30 Break
17:30-18:30 Henry Yuen: Crash Course – part 2 (Slides) (Annotated Slides) (Video)
18:30-19:00 Break
19:00-20:00 Henry Yuen: Crash Course – part 3 (Slides) (Annotated Slides) (Video)
Monday, February 15 – Quantum Key Distribution + Security Reductions
10:00-11:00 Rotem Arnon-Friedman: Quantum Key-Distribution – part 1 (Slides parts 1-3) (References) (Video 1A) (Video 1B)
11:00-11:30 Break
11:30-12:30 Rotem Arnon-Friedman: Quantum Key-Distribution – part 2 (Video)
12:30-14:00 Lunch break
14:00-15:00 Rotem Arnon-Friedman: Quantum Key-Distribution – part 3 (Video)
15:00-19:00 Break
19:00-20:00 Mark Zhandry: Security Reductions – part 1 (Slides) (Video)
20:00-20:30 Break
20:30-21:30 Mark Zhandry: Security Reductions – part 2 (Slides) (Video)
Tuesday, February 16 – Delegation in the Quantum World + Security Reductions
10:00-11:00 Thomas Vidick: Delegation of Quantum Computations – part 1 (Slides) (Annotated Slides) (References) (Video)
11:00-11:30 Break
11:30-12:30 Thomas Vidick: Delegation of Quantum Computations – part 2 (Slides) (Annotated Slides) (Video)
12:30-14:00 Lunch break
14:00-15:00 Thomas Vidick: Delegation of Quantum Computations – part 3 (Slides) (Annotated Slides) (Video)
15:00-19:00 Break
19:00-20:00 Mark Zhandry: Security Reductions – part 3 (Slides) (Video)
20:00-20:30 Break
20:30-21:30 Mark Zhandry: Quantum Random Oracle – part 1 (Slides) (Video)
Wednesday, February 17 – Protocols + Quantum Random Oracles
10:00-11:00 Alex Grilo: Quantum ZK + MPC – part 1 (Slides parts 1-3) (Video)
11:00-11:30 Break
11:30-12:30 Alex Grilo: Quantum ZK + MPC – part 2 (Video)
12:30-14:00 Lunch break
14:00-15:00 Alex Grilo: Quantum ZK + MPC – part 3 (Video)
15:00-19:00 Break
19:00-20:00 Mark Zhandry: Quantum Random Oracle – part 2 (Slides) (Video)
20:00-20:30 Break
20:30-21:30 Mark Zhandry: Quantum Random Oracle – part 3 (Slides) (Video)
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