Quantum Technologies and Cryptography is an emerging interdisciplinary field in modern physics, mathematics, information theory and engineering. Quantum supremacy has been recently demonstrated. Quantum computing challenges existing cryptography methods. Quantum cryptography is already a mature quantum technology for key distribution. Noisy intermediate-scale quantum processors are already available. New methods for high-precision measurements are based on quantum metrology.
The goal of our Master’s program is to bring together knowledge in quantum technology and modern cryptography. Our Master’s program provides opportunities to perform a research project with leading Russian research teams in experimental or theoretical physics, or modern cryptography, and to learn from the lectures given by recognized experts in the field. A publication in the peer-review international scientific journals is expected after the end of the project. We believe that this is a good starting point for research career in one the most rapidly developing fields.
The students will acquire the following skills:
Program goal
The main aim of the program is to form a bridge for motivated students between undergraduate and PhD study. As the result of training the graduates of the MEP acquire knowledge and skills of qualified specialists in the field of modern optics and novel technologies
Duration of study
Two academic years
Language of instruction
English
Courses | Credits | Certification |
---|---|---|
First Semester | 37 | |
Obligatory Courses |
|
|
Basics of Quantum Optics | 3 | Exam |
Physical Quantum Programming | 3 | Exam |
Discrete Mathematics |
3 | Exam |
Russian as a foreign language |
2 |
|
Physical Training |
2 |
|
English academic writing |
3 | Exam |
Elective Courses | ||
Physics of Ultracold Atoms |
3 | Exam |
Silicon Photonics | 3 | Exam |
Research practice | 15 | Progress report |
Courses | Credits | Certification |
---|---|---|
Second Semester | 37 | |
Obligatory Courses |
|
|
Theory of probability and mathematical statistics | 3 | Exam |
Modern Problems of Quantum Optics | 3 | Exam |
Information theory and cryptography. Introduction | 3 | Exam |
Russian as a foreign language |
2 |
|
English academic writing | 3 | Exam |
Physical Training | 2 | Exam |
Elective Courses | ||
Laser Spectroscopy | 3 | Exam |
Foundations of symmetric cryptography and cryptanalysis | 3 | Exam |
Research practice | 15 | Progress report |
Courses | Credits | Certification |
---|---|---|
Third Semester | 29 | |
Obligatory Courses |
|
|
Quantum Machine Learning | 3 | Exam |
Physical Training | 2 | |
English academic writing | 3 | Exam |
Elective Courses | ||
Atomic structure and electronic properties of low-dimensional systems | 3 | Exam |
Quantum cryptoanalysis, quantum and postquantum cryptography | 3 | Exam |
Research practice | 15 | Progress report |
Courses | Credits | Certification |
---|---|---|
Fourth semester | 26 | |
Physical Training | 2 | |
History of Science and Tecnhology | 3 | |
English academic writing | 3 | Exam |
Research practice | 18 | Progress report |
Defense of Master’s Thesis |
129 in total, 120 – obligatory. 3 of 6 elective courses should be selected.
Examples of topics (Research areas):
Prof. Leonid Veniaminovich Ilichev
Doctor of Physics and Mathematics, Professor, Vice Head of the Chair of Quantum Optics of Physics Faculty of NSU, Head scientist researcher at the Institute of Automation and Electrometry (Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences)
Course: Basics of Quantum OpticsThe course is aimed to provide the structured and systematic knowledge of all the main pillars of quantum optics. These are: the notion of quantum electromagnetic field and its coherence, the Glauber states, the master equation for the photon mode, the simplest quantum model of laser radiation, the remarkable JC model of atom-field interaction – the exclusive solvable model of non-relativistic quantum electrodynamics, the spectral and statistical features of the resonance fluorescence of a two-level atom and the most important properties of squeezed states with the methods of their creation and observation. Particular emphasis is given to topics which can create the frame of physical intuition and make complicated situations more conceivable. Several parallels are made to contrast quantum optical phenomena in comparison with their counterparts from classical stochastic optics. Some illustrations of the presented material go beyond the province of mere introductory concepts. For example, the decoherence of a quantum system due to its interaction with environment is studied in the case of a quantum photonic mode initially prepared in the so-called `Schrödinger’s cat`-state.
Assoc. Prof. Ilya Igorevich Beterov
Candidate of Physics and Mathematics, Vice Head of the Chair of Quantum Electronics of Physics Faculty of NSU, Senior scientist researcher at the Rzhanov Institute of Semiconductor Physics (Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences)
Course: Physical Quantum Programming
The lecture course is devoted to basic principles of quantum computers. Quantum computing is an emerging field which opens a way to a quantum revolution in information technologies. Leading IT companies including IBM, Google and Microsoft are now developing sophisticated prototypes of quantum computers. The theoretical part of the course includes theoretical description of basic quantum algorithms including quantum teleportation, quantum Fourier transform, Shor’s algorithm of factorization and quantum search algorithms. The course also includes a review of different physical platforms used for implementation of a quantum computer. The superconductors, ultracold ions, ultracold atoms, photons and many other physical systems can be considered as qubits. The experimental part of the course includes implementation of quantum algorithms using IBM Quantum Experience
Assoc. Prof. Alexandr Sergeevich Shaporenko
Assistant Professor of the Chair of Computer Systems of the Information Technologies Department of NSU
Course: Discrete Mathematics
The course covers such topics of discrete mathematics as enumerative combinatorics, elements of probability theory, Boolean functions, graph theory. Students will reach a certain level of mathematical maturity becoming familiar with a wide range of mathematical objects that are ubiquitous in computer science; being able to understand relations between them and proof formal statements concerning them.
Associate Prof. Oleg Nikolaevich Prudnikov
Doctor of Physics and Mathematics, Head scientist researcher at the Institute of Laser Physics (Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences)
Course: Physics of Ultracold AtomsLaser radiation allows cooling of gases to temperatures near to absolute zero. The advances in this field have been recognized by Nobel Prize in physics in 1997 and 2001. Since then the technique of laser cooling has become a useful tool for metrological applications (including atomic clocks, atomic interferometry and gravimetry), spectroscopy and quantum information. The course is devoted to basic principles and applications of laser cooling and physics of ultracold atoms. After the end of the course the student should master the basic notions, models and methods of laser cooling; including knowledge of the basic principles of mechanical action of light on atoms, the main methods of laser cooling and space localization of atoms, the main applications of ultracold atoms, similarity and diversity of quasiclassical and purely quantum descriptions of atomic motion in resonance inhomogeneous field.
Assoc. Prof. Andrey Vladimirovich Tsarev
Doctor of Physics and Mathematics, Senior science researcher at Rzhanov Institute of Semiconductor Physics (Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences)
Course: Silicon Photonics
Silicon photonics stands among the most actively developing modern technologies. It merges the benefits of integrated optics, nanophotonics and microelectronics. This lecture course provides the background in silicon photonics and includes both the fundamental aspects and the current state of research. The course will present an introduction to guided waves, optical modes, and propagation characteristics of photonic circuits in the high contrast silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structures constructed by Silicon Technology. We will study multiple passive and active devices (grating and adiabatic couplers, Mach Zehnder interferometers and ring resonators, optical modulators, filters and multiplexers, etc.). Some part of lecture is devoted to silicon nanophotonics including photonic crystals and slot waveguides. All these elements form the basis of the modern photonics technologies intended for telecommunications, sensing, microwave photonics, and multiple other applications
Assoc. Prof. Alexander Alexandrovich Bystrov
Candidate of Physics and Mathematics, Associate Professor of the Chair of Theory of probabilities and mathematical statistics of the Department of Mechanics and Mathematics of NSU
Course: Theory of probability and mathematical statistics
These disciplines play an important role in cryptography and cryptanalysis, for example, in Shannon's theory of secrecy or statistical methods of cryptanalysis. The following themes will be considered: one- and multidimensional random variables, the distribution of functions of random variables, the characteristics of random variables, the conditional expectation, limit theorems, the theory of hypothesis testing, random processes and their characteristics, stationary and Markov random processes, etc
Prof. Leonid Veniaminovich Ilichev
Doctor of Physics and Mathematics, Professor, Vice Head of the Chair of Quantum Optics of Physics Faculty of NSU, Head scientist researcher at the Institute of Automation and Electrometry (Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences).
Course: Modern Problems of Quantum Optics
The purpose of the course is to display the wide horizon of recent advancements in quantum optics. Among the main and most prominent ones are quantum communications and quantum computations. The study of these topics is inseparable from understanding quantum foundations deeper and in a greater extent than when dealing with ordinary regions of quantum physics. For this reason, Bell inequalities, classical vs quantum (entanglement) and hypothetical `super-quantum` correlations, quantum non-locality and related topics are presented in the course in their optical versions. The course’s program includes the results on impossibility of exact quantum state copying as well as main protocols of the so-called quantum cryptography. Quantum state teleportation and its `inverted` counterpart, dense coding, are presented as the illustrations of resource nature of entanglement.
Assoc. Prof. Natalia Nikolaevna Tokareva
Candidate of Physics and Mathematics, Associate Professor of the Chair of Computer Systems of the Information Technologies Department of NSU, Senior researcher at Sobolev Institute of Mathematics (Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences).
Course: Information theory and cryptography. Introduction
Assis. Prof. Valeriya Alexandrovna Idrisova
Candidate of Physics and Mathematics, Assistant Professor of the Chair of Theoretical Cybernetics of the Department of Mechanics and Mathematics of NSU.
Course:
The course contains chapters devoted to basic notions and concepts in information theory and cryptography. The following topics will be discussed: elements of signal theory, error-correcting codes, data compression, brief overview of main classical results and modern methods of cryptography, introduction into cryptanalysis
Assoc. Prof. Ilya Igorevich Beterov
Candidate of Physics and Mathematics, Vice Head of the Chair of Quantum Electronics of Physics Faculty of NSU, Senior scientist researcher at the Rzhanov Institute of Semiconductor Physics SB RAS.
Course: Laser Spectroscopy
Laser spectroscopy remains a very intensive field of research for more than 50 years after invention of a laser. Highly intensive and monochromatic laser radiation opened a new class of spectroscopic techniques which allowed studies of properties of atoms and molecules in great detail. The purpose of the is to explain the basic concepts of the field and to discuss the most important experimental methods. This includes the basic principles of interaction of light with atoms, mathematical description of the dynamics of two-level and three-level systems interacting with resonant laser radiation, line-shape analysis, methods of absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, saturation spectroscopy, polarization and multi-laser spectroscopy and spectroscopy of Rydberg atoms and molecules
Assis. Prof. Nikolay Alexandrovich Kolomeec
Candidate of Physics and Mathematics, Assistant Professor of the Chair of Theoretical Cybernetics of the Department of Mechanics and Mathematics of NSU, Researcher at Sobolev Institute of Mathematics SB RAS.
Assis. Prof Yuliya Pavlovna Maksimlyuk
Assistant Professor of the Chair of Computer Systems of the Information Technologies Department of NSU.
Course: Foundations of symmetric cryptography and cryptanalysis
This course is devoted to a huge branch of cryptography and contains such chapters as evolution from one-time pad systems to modern encryption methods, general constructions of block and stream ciphers, well-known examples of ciphers, symmetric primitives implementing the principle of confusion and diffusion, key management, open problems and perspectives. This course provides also deep knowledge on the attacks on block and stream ciphers. Starting with basic ideas as birthday paradox, brute force and meet-in-the-middle attacks, we come to statistical and algebraic methods of cryptanalysis, distinguishing attacks. Side-channel attacks as well as other modern techniques and results in cryptanalysis will be also considered. Brief overview of main results and techniques in asymmetric cryptography is also provided.
Assoc. Prof. Evgeniy Nikolaevich Pavlovsky
Candidate of Physics and Mathematics, Associate Professor of the Chair of Quantum Electronics of Physics Faculty of NSU, head of laboratory at NSU.
Course: Quantum Machine Learning
Quantum machine learning is the integration of quantum algorithms within machine learning programs. The existing noisy intermediate-scale quantum processors are expected to be suitable for efficient implementation of machine learning. The course includes introduction to quantum machine learning, description of various approaches to machine learning, quantum clusterization and quantum classification, tomography of quantum processes and application of quantum technologies to various optimization problems. The students will be able to implement various methods of machine learning using open sources including IBM quantum processors.
Assis. Prof. Kutsenko Alexander Vladimirovich
Candidate of Physics and Mathematics, Assistant Professor of the Chair of Theoretical Cybernetics of the Department of Mechanics and Mathematics of NSU, Researcher at Sobolev Institute of Mathematics SB RAS.
Course: Quantum cryptoanalysis, quantum and postquantum cryptography
This course is devoted to the study of the development and usage of quantum technology in the area of cryptography. The course contains an introduction to the mathematical aspects of quantum informatics: pure and mixed quantum states, composite quantum systems, quantum measurements. Quantum computation model, Shor’s and Grover’s algorithms as well as quantum attacks on symmetric cryptography primitives will be studied. Quantum key distribution protocols (BB84, B92, etc.) and attacks on them will be considered. The course also covers principal directions of post-quantum cryptography such as lattice-based and code-based cryptosystems
Assoc. Prof. Oleg Evgenievich Tereschenko
Doctor of Physics and Mathematics, Associate Professor of the Chair of General Physics and Chair of Semiconductor Physics of the Faculty of Physics of NSU, Senior science researcher at Rzhanov Institute of Semiconductor Physics SB RAS.
Course: Atomic structure and electronic properties of low-dimensional systems
This lecture course gives an overview of the solid state physics basic questions of low dimensionality and the research in the field of nanoscience and technology. It starts with review of the classical laws related to energy transport processes, and introduces microscopic pictures of energy carriers. The evolution of electronic structure and properties from an atom to a molecule and to a crystal is consistently considered. Some aspects of chemical bonds formation and its relation to the electronic properties and the features of the synthesized nanosystems will be given. In particular, the atomic and electronic structure of graphene and graphene-like systems, ultrathin metallic layers and topological insulators are discussed that deal with certain important and current developments in nanoscience, from both a scientific as well as technological point of view in which the main focus is on spin-dependent aspects. The recent advances in modern methods like spin-resolved scanning tunneling spectroscopy (SR STM), photoemission spectroscopy with angular and spin resolution (SR ARPES) and various optical methods will be considered.
Assoc. Prof. Ilya Igorevich Beterov
Candidate of Physics and Mathematics, Vice Head of the Chair of Quantum Electronics of Physics Faculty of NSU, Senior scientist researcher at the Rzhanov Institute of Semiconductor Physics SB RAS.
Course: History of Science and Technology
The course is devoted to development of science and technology from ancient times to XXI century. It gives broad understanding of the role of science and technology in development of modern society.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees is U.S. $5200 per year.
Quota of the Government of the Russian Federation
Scholarships
Every year foreign students have an opportunity to apply for the Russian Government Scholarship Program
Benefits: full tuition, monthly stipend.
Application deadline: depends on the country of applicant (March-June)
The graduates of the MEP can choose the following kinds of activity: postgraduate study in NRU NSU and research institutes of Siberian Branch of RAS (in particular, in IA&E SB RAS, ILP SB RAS, ISP SB RAS); teaching in higher education institutions: work in research divisions in industry and firms; business and advisory activity.