Organizing committee

The school is organized by:

Thomas Coudreau (MPQ, CNRS - Université Paris Diderot)
Eleni Diamanti (LTCI, CNRS - Télécom ParisTech)
Frédéric Magniez (LIAFA, CNRS - Université Paris Diderot)
Damian Markham (LTCI, CNRS - Télécom ParisTech)
Pérola Milman (MPQ, CNRS - Université Paris Diderot)

Public

The school is organized for young researchers (PhD and post-docs) in physics and computer science with an interest for quantum information. These are the researchers who will contribute to defining the quantum information future; it is therefore essential for them to create and maintain strong links within their discipline but also with the other disciplines involved in the field of quantum information processing and communications. To this end, they need to be trained with the necessary multidisciplinary tools. This school aims at advancing in this direction. Basic notions and recent developments of both disciplines will therefore be presented to create a common ground of understanding that is often absent among researchers in this field.

More advanced researchers that are interested in some of the aspects that will be adressed in the 
lectures are also welcome to participate.

Given the multidisciplinary nature of the school, prerequisites are minimal and will be the ones expected at the end of typical physics or computer science studies. Bridging the gap between the two disciplines will be naturally integrated as part of the lectures. In particular, fundamental notions that are à priori non known will be explained and used by the lecturers with the prospect of providing to the public of the school a new vision and understanding of these notions in the light of applications in quantum information science.

 Teaching axes and modalities

The teaching program aims at providing the bases in both disciplines that are at the heart of quantum information, namely quantum physics and computer science. In particular, the lectures will discuss:

- In physics, the principles of quantum physics and of physical systems typically used in quantum information
- In computer science, themes that are particularly enlightening in view of creating links with physics, such as quantum cryptography and quantum algorithms

The most important notions of the field will be the subject of a double approach, whenever this is possible. This will be true, for instance, for Bell inequalities and quantum cryptography.

The program will follow the following main axes, which will be taught by reknown experts in the corresponding fields (each of the axes corresponds to a 3 hour lecture):

1. Bell inequalities and introduction to quantum information science
    Lecturer: Philippe Grangier (LCFIO, CNRS - Institut d'Optique - Université Paris Sud)
    Lecture abstract:
In this course we will start from basic quantum mechanics and introduce progressively qubits, entanglement, and Bell's inequalities; some details will be given about "Aspect's experiments" realized in the 1980's at Institut d'Optique. In the second part we will point out the links between entanglement, quantum measurement, and quantum gates, and illustrate these ideas using some simple examples.

2. Quantum key distribution and information theory
    Lecturer: Renato Renner (ETH Zürich)
    Lecture abstract:
In the first part of my lecture, I will introduce basic information-theoretic techniques that are not only commonly used in quantum cryptography, but also play an important role in various other areas of quantum information science. These include one-shot entropy measures ("smooth entropies") as well as the de Finetti theorem. The second part of the lecture will be devoted to quantum key distribution. Using a simple protocol as an example, I will discuss what "security" actually means and then demonstrate how one can prove security based on physical principles.

3. Computing models (a): Basics, complexity, Shor's algorithm, Grover's algorithm
    Lecturer: Ronald de Wolf (CWI and University of Amsterdam)
    Lecture abstract:
This lecture provides an introduction to quantum computing models. The first part will explain how we can do computation using elementary quantum operations on quantum bits. The second part will describe two of the main quantum algorithms: Shor's algorithm for factoring large integers into their prime factors (which breaks much commonly used cryptography) and Grover's algorithm for search.

4. Quantum cryptographic primitives
    Lecturer: Iordanis Kerenidis (LIAFA, CNRS - Université Paris Diderot)
    Lecture abstract:
5. Physical implementations of quantum computation systems
    Lecturer: Jean-Michel Raimond (Ecole Normale Supérieure)
    Lecture abstract:
I will discuss in this lectire the routes towards the practical implementation of quantum computing devices. I will particularly focus on the spin-oscillator system, which describes trapped ions as well as cavity and circuit electrodynamics. It provides a universal and possibly scalable architecture for a quantum processor. Ion trap experiments, in particular, have been able to achieverecently rather complex quantum entanglement manipulations. I will describe the decoherence processes affecting these systems and ways to combat them. I will also sketch the field of quantum simulations, particularly based on the manipulation of cold atoms in optical lattices.

6. Computing models (b): Recent advancements (measurement based quantum computing, blind quantum computing)
    Lecturer: Elham Kashefi (University of Edinburgh, Scotland)
    Lecture abstract:
In this lecture we present the the measurement-based quantum computing (MBQC) which highlights the role of entanglement. We then present how this model suggests new techniques for designing cryptographic protocols, such as Universal Blind Quantum Computation.

7. Bell inequalities from a computer science perspective, and link with device independence
    Lecturer: Stefano Pironio (Université Libre de Bruxelles)
    Lecture abstract:
This lecture introduces quantum non-locality from an operational perspective, rather than a strict foundational one, highlighting its role and applications in quantum information theory. The first part will discuss the link between nonlocality and communication complexity. The second part will explain how nonlocality makes it possible to design quantum information protocols that are device-independent.


The training program will also include a laboratory visit and a poster session so that participants can present and discuss their work.

Particular importance will be given in letting sufficient time outside the lecture times for participants to interact with the lecturers and between themselves.

The courses will be given in English.

Please find the final school schedule here.

 Registration

Registration is now closed.

The space is limited to 50 participants. The registration fee is 500 € for participants staying at Sèvres and 400 € otherwise. This fee includes all meals and coffee breaks for the duration of the school.

Eleni Diamanti © 2014