CSE 599C: "Modern Quantum Cryptography"
(Winter 2026)
CSE 599C: "Modern Quantum Cryptography"
(Winter 2026)
Course Information
Instructor: Andrea Coladangelo
Time & location: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11.30am-12.50pm, CSE2 271
Class Q&A: Ed Discussion
Office hours: Thursdays 3-4pm (CSE2 212)
Course Description
Quantum cryptography (surprisingly!) dates back to the 80’s (or even earlier), to the discovery that quantum communication enables the exchange of secret keys with information-theoretic (i.e. “unhackable”) security. Over the past decade or so, the field has been experiencing a modern revolution, with the focus shifting towards “computational” security, and the many more applications that this relaxation brings about.
This course will describe a few samples from the following broad directions in “modern” quantum cryptography, showcasing some cool applications, but also trying to focus on techniques that can be useful elsewhere:
1. Security of classical protocols against quantum adversaries.
2. What new cryptographic functionalities can we realize in a quantum world that are impossible classically?
3. Can we base the existence of “computational” cryptography on the hardness of inherently quantum problems (i.e. problems with quantum inputs and/or quantum outputs)?;
4. Verifiable demonstrations of quantum advantage based on cryptographic techniques.
This is an advanced course: the recommended prerequisite is to have done well in the graduate course “Quantum Information and Computation” (CSE 534) (or in an equivalent course). Familiarity with cryptography is helpful, but not required. An alternative combination that also qualifies as a prerequisite is to have done well in a graduate Cryptography course (e.g. CSE 526) + familiarity with at least undergraduate-level quantum computation.
Homeworks
Will be posted here
Grading
3 homeworks, each worth 1/3 of the grade.