Quantum networking: Introduction

Welcome to the introduction for quantum networking. My name is Dr. Chuck Easttom, and I'll be walking you through the various lessons we have in this course. We have nine lessons, and they each build progressively on the previous ones. We begin by simply defining what a quantum network is and what it's not. We then in lesson two will introduce you to some of the actual hardware used. In Lesson 3, we'll see examples of quantum networks. We'll also see the very earliest quantum key distribution protocol, BB84. From there, we're going to move forward into looking at many common quantum key distribution algorithms. And then in Lesson 5, we're going to look at some of the less common ones. Now, Lesson 6 is pretty brief. It just gives you a comparison of what be covered in 4 and 5 along with BB84. Lesson 7 gets very interesting because we start looking at quantum key distribution variations. Now lesson 8 is going to be an important one as we discuss quantum error correction. Lesson 9, quantum information theory, is one of my favorites because I'm really into information theory. Now let me give you a few caveats before we begin. Anything related to quantum physics and quantum computing can be difficult to understand. Some of these protocols are a little difficult to get the very first time you go through them. So you might have to watch a lesson, set it to one side, let it sort of simmer in your mind, then come back a little while later and watch it again. I also strongly recommend that in lesson 3 where we see the basics of in general how QKD works along with the first protocol BB84 that you really take the time to learn those two topics before you move on. I promise you what you see in lesson 4 and 5 will be much much easier. Also remember with any topic in the quantum world it's not a question of whether or not you've completely mastered every aspect of the topic. That's unlikely on your first introduction. The question is, do you have a much better knowledge than when you began? My sincere desire is that you will finish this course with a much deeper and stronger knowledge of quantum networking than you have now. So with that said, let's get started.