Quantum and Cryptography: Challenges and Opportunities

Zoom link for remote participants, passcode:  167435

Abstract: Due to the surprising power of quantum computing, quantum computers pose significant threats to modern cryptography. Many unique properties of quantum, including the famous no-cloning principle, challenge how we reason about cryptography. On the other end of the spectrum, they also offer lots of distinct opportunities to achieve never-before-possible cryptographic functionalities.

In this talk, I will discuss these challenges and mainly focus on methods and ideas that I developed to turn these challenges into opportunities. As an example, I will show how to achieve software copy-protection, a way to protect against software piracy solely based on cryptography and the law of physics. I will also mention other exciting applications I built beyond software copy-protection.

Bio:   Qipeng Liu is a Simons Quantum Postdoctoral Fellow at Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing, hosted by Shafi Goldwasser and Umesh Vazirani. He earned his Ph.D. degree at Princeton University in 2021 under the supervision of Prof. Mark Zhandry. He primarily focuses on quantum computing and cryptography, including understanding the post-quantum security of existing cryptosystems and building cryptography with the power of quantum information.