QC805: Quantum Cryptography and Quantum Key Distribution

The Study Board for Science

Teaching language: English
EKA: N310089102
Assessment: Second examiner: Internal
Grading: 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Spring
Level: Master

STADS ID (UVA): N310089101
ECTS value: 10

Date of Approval: 09-05-2025


Duration: 1 semester

Version: Archive

Entry requirements

None

Academic preconditions

Students following the course are expected to be acquainted with the contents of the following courses

  • Introduction to Quantum Computing.
  • Quantum Information Theory.

Course introduction

The overarching goal of quantum cryptography is to develop quantum cryptographic protocols, whose security is based on the principles of quantum mechanics, as opposed to the current limits on computational power - which is the case for the classical RSA scheme. This course serves as an introduction to quantum cryptography and focuses primarily on quantum key distribution (QKD). One of the main ideas is to utilize Bohr’s measurement postulate to detect if an adversary has attempted an attack. The course will also treat post-quantum cryptography, which aims at developing classical cryptographic protocols which are secure against attacks from an adversary with a quantum computer.
Quantum cryptography and QKD is a promising and rapidly developing technology of great strategic importance and is already commercialized and implemented to various degrees in society.



Expected learning outcome

The learning objective of the course is that the student demonstrates at the exam mastery of
  • Basic concepts and terminology introduced in the course.
  • Foundational results and principles in quantum cryptography and QKD.
  • Implementation of QKD protocols.






Content

This course will cover a selection of the following topics
  • Elements of classical cryptography.
  • Quantum cryptography, foundational QKD protocols and their implementation.
  • Security analysis and security proofs of QKD protocols.
  • Elements of device independent QKD.
  • Elements of Gaussian quantum information theory and quantum continuous variables based QKD.
  • Elements of post-quantum cryptography.

Literature

Grasselli, Federico (2021). Quantum Cryptography: From Key Distribution to Conference Key Agreement. English. 1. 2021;1; Cham: Springer International Publishing. ISBN: 2364-9054.

Weedbrook, Christian et al. (2012). “Gaussian quantum information”. English. In: Reviews of modern physics 84.2, pp. 621–669.

Wolf, Ramona (2021). Quantum key distribution—an introduction with exercises. Vol. 988. Lecture Notes in Physics. Springer, Cham, pp. xi+229. ISBN: 978-3-030-73990-4; 978-3-030-73991-1.

Examination regulations

Exam element a)

Timing

Spring and June

Tests

Portfolio

EKA

N310089102

Assessment

Second examiner: Internal

Grading

7-point grading scale

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

English

Duration

Oral exam - 30 minutes + 30 minutes preparation

Examination aids

Assignments - all common aids allowed
Oral exam - Only notes prepared during the preparation time may be brought to the exam itself

ECTS value

10

Additional information

Portfolio exam consisting of the following elements:
  1. A total of four assignments handed in during the course
  2. Final oral exam during the exam period

To achieve a passing grade overall, both elements 1 and 2 must individually meet the learning objectives.
The assessment of element 1 takes place in conjunction with the completion of element 2.
Element 1 contributes 20% to the final grade, and element 2 contributes 80%. However, an overall assessment is applied.

Re-exam has the same form as the ordinary exam. Submitted elements from the ordinary exam may be included in the re-exam.  

Indicative number of lessons

70 hours per semester

Teaching Method

Planned lessons:
Total number of planned lessons: 70
Hereof:
Common lessons in classroom/auditorium: 70

There will be three hours of lectures and 2 hours of exercises each week. During the lectures, the teacher will explain the material to the students. Weekly exercise sheets will be distributed. During the exercise classes, the students present their solutions to the exercises to their peers.

Teaching activities outside the classroom include:

  • Review of the material discussed in the lessons
  • The students solve the exercises and prepare to present their solution during the exercise class 
  • Reading of the suggested literature to deepen and diversify the knowledge
  • Other activities may be announced during the class

Teacher responsible

Name E-mail Department
Konstantin Wernli kwernli@imada.sdu.dk Institut for Matematik og Datalogi

Timetable

Administrative Unit

Institut for Matematik og Datalogi (matematik)

Team at Registration

NAT

Offered in

Odense

Recommended course of study

Profile Education Semester Offer period

Transition rules

Transitional arrangements describe how a course replaces another course when changes are made to the course of study. 
If a transitional arrangement has been made for a course, it will be stated in the list. 
See transitional arrangements for all courses at the Faculty of Science.