QC802: Quantum Information Theory

The Study Board for Science

Teaching language: English
EKA: N310086102
Assessment: Second examiner: Internal
Grading: 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Autumn
Level: Master

STADS ID (UVA): N310086101
ECTS value: 10

Date of Approval: 22-04-2025


Duration: 1 semester

Version: Archive

Entry requirements

None

Academic preconditions

Students following this course are expected to be acquainted with linear algebra and the basics of probability theory.

Course introduction

The overarching goal of quantum information theory is to study the capacity of quantum systems to reliably store and transmit information. This course's purpose is to give a thorough introduction to quantum information theory, which will also serve as a foundation for more advanced courses. Elements of quantum information theory are used in the theory of fault-tolerant quantum computing, quantum cryptography and are central in current research endeavors aimed at developing
a quantum internet.
Quantum information theory is a generalization of classical information theory as developed by Shannon in the twentieth century. In this course we will include elements of classical information theory, and we will study how quantum phenomena can be used as a resource, setting quantum information protocols apart from classical information protocols.


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 of quantum information theory.
  • Key differences between classical information theory and quantum information theory.
  • Implementation of selected quantum information protocols on a quantum computer.


Content

This course will cover a selection of the following topics
  • Elements of classical information theory,
  • The density operator formalism for noisy quantum theory and purification,
  • Foundational concepts from quantum Shannon theory including; resources, quantum channels, entropy,
  • Foundational quantum information protocols and their implementation on quantum computers,
  • Resource inequalities, the quantum capacity theorem, and trade-off analysis

Literature

Watrous, John (2018). The Theory of Quantum Information. Cambridge University Press.

Wilde, Mark M. (2017). Quantum information theory. Second. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. xvii+757. isbn:
978-1-107-17616-4.

Examination regulations

Exam element a)

Timing

Autumn and January

Tests

Portfolio

EKA

N310086102

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

All common aids allowed during the preparation.Only notes prepared during the preparation time may be brought to the exam itself.

ECTS value

10

Additional information

Portfolio consisting of the following elements: 
  1. A number of 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.
The grade is primarily based on element 2, but element 1 can raise or lower the grade by one grade 
step.

Reexaminations are of the same format as the ordinary examinations. Submitted elements from the ordinary portfolio exam may be included in the reexam.

Indicative number of lessons

84 hours per semester

Teaching Method

Planned lessons:
Total number of planned lessons: 84
Hereof:
Common lessons in classroom/auditorium: 84

Each week there will be 4 hours of ordinary lectures, where the lecturer covers the syllabus, and 2 hours of exercise sessions, where the students will present homework solutions to problems announced during the course. In the first week, the weeks immediately before and after the fall-break as well as in the last week, the schedule might deviate slightly from this plan.

Other planned teaching activities:
The students will work on the weekly homework problems, and the students will work on the assignments for exam element 1.

Teacher responsible

Name E-mail Department
Du Pei dpei@imada.sdu.dk Institut for Matematik og Datalogi
William Elbæk Mistegård wem@imada.sdu.dk Institut for Matematik og Datalogi

Additional teachers

Name E-mail Department City
Du Pei dpei@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