What sets quantum information apart from its classical counterpart is that it can be encoded non-locally, woven into correlations among multiple qubits in a phenomenon known as entanglement. We will discuss paradigms for harnessing entanglement to solve hitherto intractable computational problems, to securely transmit information across long distances, and to push the precision of sensors to fundamental quantum mechanical limits. Through activities including simple optics experiments, pencil-and-paper algebra, and computer simulations, we will develop both an intuition and a rigorous mathematical framework for understanding qubits and their applications, from cryptographic protocols to quantum algorithms. We will also examine challenges that physicists and engineers are tackling today to enable the quantum technologies of the future.
3 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit · GER: WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
What sets quantum information apart from its classical counterpart is that it can be encoded non-locally, woven into correlations among multiple qubits in a phenomenon known as entanglement. We will discuss paradigms for harnessing entanglement to solve hitherto intractable computational problems, to securely transmit information across long distances, and to push the precision of sensors to fundamental quantum mechanical limits. Through activities including simple optics experiments, pencil-and-paper algebra, and computer simulations, we will develop both an intuition and a rigorous mathematical framework for understanding qubits and their applications, from cryptographic protocols to quantum algorithms. We will also examine challenges that physicists and engineers are tackling today to enable the quantum technologies of the future.
Offered in Spring 2027 at Stanford University.