Quantum Mechanics is the theory describing the Physics of the microscopic world. It is often seen as paradoxical, since quantum features often contradict our classical intuition. Now, what happens if information is encoded on quantum particles, such as photons, atoms or ions? This scenario appears in the near horizon if one takes into account the current evolution on information devices miniaturization. Then, may quantum laws affect the way information is processed and transmitted? At first sight, the answer to this question should be negative: Information Theory is a purely mathematical discipline where Physics laws do not play any role. In the last years, however, new information applications based on quantum laws have been proposed and experimentally demonstrated. These applications are impossible in Classical Information Theory, since they exploit quantum effects without classical analog. This has led to a new research field known as Quantum Information Science (QIS). The purpose of this talk is to give an introduction to QIS, with an emphasis on Quantum Computation and Quantum Cryptography.


Monday, 28^th of July, 15:00h. Conference Room