| CS 601.742: Advanced Topics in Cryptography (Spring 2023) |
| Overview: We will cover recent advances in the theory and practice of succinct (zero-knowledge) proof systems. The focus will be on developing a modular view of the literature and understanding the core techniques that have been developed over the years. |
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Class Schedule (Tentative):
| Date | Topic | Notes | Reading | Presenter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 24 | Introduction | A modular approach to (ZK)-SNARGs | Papers: [Kilian92], [Micali94] Talks: [Ishai] | Abhishek Jain |
| Jan 31 | Sumcheck and GKR | Polynomials, Schwartz-Zippel, Multivariate Sumcheck, Low-Degree Extensions, GKR | Papers: [Lund-Fortnow-Karloff-Nisan92], [Goldwasser-Kalai-Rothblum08] | Guest Lecture: Arka Rai Choudhuri |
| Feb 7 | Interactive Oracle Proofs | IOPs, Univariate Sumcheck, Polynomial IOP | Papers: [Ben-Sasson-Chiesa-Spooner16], [Reingold-Rothblum-Rothblum16], [Ben-Sasson-Chiesa-Riabzev-Spooner-Virza-Ward18] | Guest Lecture: Aarushi Goel |
| Feb 14 | Polynomial Commitments | KZG, FRI | [Kate-Zaverucha-Goldberg10], [BenSasson-Bentov-Horesh-Riabzev17] | Pratyush Ranjan Tiwari |
| Feb 21 | Holographic Proofs and Fast Verifier | Fractal, Plonk | [Chiesa-Ojha-Spooner], [Gabizon-Williamson-Cobitaru] | Aditya Hegde |
| Feb 28 | Linear PCPs and SNARGs - I | BCIOP, GGPR | [Bitansky-Chiesa-Ishai-Ostrovsky-Paneth13], [Gennaro-Gentry-Parno-Raykova13] | TBA |
| March 7 | Linear PCPs and SNARGs - II | Groth16, Updatable CRS | [Groth16], [Groth-Kohlweiss-Maller-Meiklejohn-Miers18] | TBA |
| March 14 | Folding and Incrementally Verifiable Computation | TBA | ||
| March 18 - 26 | Spring break | |||
| March 28 | Linear-Time Provers | TBA | ||
| April 4 | Time and Space | TBA | ||
| April 11 | Designated Verifier SNARGs | TBA | ||
| April 18 | Standard Assumptions - I | TBA | ||
| April 25 | Standard Assumptions - II | TBA |