From Bit To Qubit: Quantum Information For Everyone

Michael Nathanson, St. Mary’s College, Moraga, California

Stevenson Hall 1300
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM

Classical information theory abstracts all data into strings of zeroes and ones. The particular medium used to encode them is theoretically irrelevant, and any strange behavior introduced by the medium becomes a challenge to overcome. In quantum information theory, information is encoded in the states of quantum systems, and the extent to which its behavior deviates from the classical is no longer seen as a challenge but as a fundamental resource. In this talk, I will describe how properties of quantum mechanics such as superposition and entanglement offer the possibility of more efficient algorithms and secure cryptographic protocols, giving specific examples of each.