PHYS 316 - Protecting Information: Applications of Abstract Algebra and Quantum Physics

Institution:

Williams College

Subject:

Physics

Description:

Living in the early decades of the information age, we find ourselves depending more and more on codes that protect messages against either noise or eavesdropping. This course examines some of the most important codes currently being used to protect information, including linear codes, which in addition to being mathematically elegant are the most practical codes for error correction, and the RSA public key cryptographic scheme, popular nowadays for internet applications. We also study the standard AES system as well as an increasingly popular cryptographic strategy based on elliptic curves. Looking ahead by a decade or more, we show how a "quantum computer" could crack any RSA code scheme in short order, and how quantum cryptographic devices will achieve security through the Heisenberg uncertainty principleinherent unpredictability of quantum events.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Physics 210 or Mathematics 211 (possibly concurrent) or permission of the instructors; students not satisfying the course prerequisites but who have completed Mathematics 209 or Mathematics 251 are particularly encouraged to ask to be admitted

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.williams.edu

Phone Number:

(413) 597-3131

Regional Accreditation:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Four-one-four plan

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