CODE | CCE3312 | ||||||||
TITLE | Introduction to Quantum Communications | ||||||||
UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||
DEPARTMENT | Communications and Computer Engineering | ||||||||
DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will introduce the theory and some practice underlying quantum communications. It will include a primer on how to perform calculations on quantum mechanical systems using concepts imported from linear algebra; a thorough description of fundamental quantum information concepts like qubits, entanglement, Bell’s inequalities, and quantum key distribution; and an exploration of some important quantum key distribution protocols, with an emphasis on their implementation. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims at introducing the basic background of quantum communication systems and protocols. Key concepts from quantum mechanics, including Dirac notation and measurement, will be covered and used to explore how quantum communication may out-perform classical communication technology in terms of security or bandwidth. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - define kets, bras, unitary operators, tensor products, and other important notions, in terms of linear algebra concepts, using the Dirac notation; - describe the fundamental differences between qubits and bits; - explain in mathematical terms what superposition and collapse are; - calculate possible measurement outcomes, as well as their statistical distributions, for quantum states undergoing measurements; - explain what entanglement is, both descriptively and mathematically; - describe the assumptions underlying Bell's inequality, and explain why quantum mechanics violates it; - explain the concepts of superdense coding, teleportation, and quantum key distribution; - explain the quantum key distribution protocols BB84 and E91; - distinguish between communication security through computational complexity and communication security through the laws of quantum mechanics; - discuss how quantum key distribution is implemented in the laboratory and in end-user devices. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - translate back and forth between Dirac notation and its representation in the so-called computational basis; - prove the “no-cloning theorem” mathematically; - calculate the violation of a Bell’s inequality for specific initial states and measurement scenarios; - analyse the steps involved in a quantum communication protocol; - implement a simulator for a quantum key distribution protocol in a programming language of their choice. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: Lecturer-supplied notes. Supplementary Readings: S Pirandola, et al., Adv. Opt. Photon. 12, 1012–1236 (2020). |
||||||||
ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite Study-units: MAT1801 and MAT1802 or a knowledge of calculus and linear algebra | ||||||||
STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
|
||||||||
LECTURER/S | Johann A. Briffa (Co-ord.) Andre Xuereb |
||||||||
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |