MATHQCI 2008 Madrid/Workshop

Speech's Title:
"Classical, quantum and post-quantum cryptography"

E-mail address: artur.ekert@qubit.org

My research extends over most aspects of information processing in quantum-mechanical systems, with a focus on quantum cryptography and quantum computation. It is a cross-disciplinary field bringing together theoretical and experimental quantum physics, mathematics, logic, computer science and information theory. My work is mostly theoretical but its results also bear directly on issues of experimental implementation. One reason why it has attracted attention from industry and government agencies is that quantum cryptography can guarantee perfectly secure communication. Another is that projected quantum computers will be capable of efficiently solving some problems for which there is believed to be no efficient classical algorithm. Quantum information science is great fun, and it tends to open the mind to the wonder of the quantum world.

My brief academic résumé, more detailed CV , and selected research topics

My lectures at DAMTP:

Introduction to Quantum Computation (lecture notes will be available soon).
Wonders of Physics also known as Introduction to Physics

Some of my talks

Einstein Year 2005. Popular talk on quantum cryptography, i.e. truly spooky action at a distance, "Ciphers, quanta and computers" .

Maths is fun! I am on the Management Committee of the Millennium Mathematics Project which runs several programmes, including a free online magazine +Plus and the NRICH website.

Sharing my time between Singapore and Europe made me interested in the history and culture of Asia. I am surprised how little is known about the ancient Asian cryptography. If you know anything about methods of secret communication in ancient China, India or Japan please drop me a line.

Some of my less technical writings

About cryptography, classical and quantum for the Plus+ magazine
With David Deutsch on quantum computation for Physics World (March 1998).
If you think that our knowledge of the truths of logic and pure mathematics is objective and independent of any contingent facts or laws of nature then have a look at my paper with David Deutsch and Rossella Lupacchini, Machines, Logic and Quantum Physics. It appeared in The Bulletin of Symbolic Logic, vol. 6, pp. 265 - 283 (2000).
My review of "The Code Book" by Simon Singh.

Miscellaneous

I was pleased to learn that my 1991 paper on quantum key distribution using entangled photons is still the most cited paper in quantum cryptography.
An amusing summary of my work in Singapore.
About the Oxford roots of the Centre for Quantum Computation in Oxford Today
Many, many years ago I was coerced to organize a conference. The Rank Prize Funds Symposium on Quantum Communication and Cryptography, Broadway, U.K., 29 March - 1 April 1993 was the very first meeting in the field of quantum information science. In fact at this meeting the word "qubit" was coined by Ben Schumacher to name a quantum unit of information. Have a look at the participants here.
The game of GO - simply the best game in the world.
Check out how to teach semiconductor physics - visit Britney's Guide to Semiconductor Physics

Pictures