Advanced Topics in Cryptography
MIT OpenCourseWare's graduate-level course traces the evolution of proofs in computer science, from interactive proofs and multi-prover interactive proofs to probabilistically checkable proofs (PCPs). It then shows how cryptography converts these proof systems into computationally sound non-interactive arguments, known as SNARGs. Materials include lecture notes and readings covering the theoretical foundations connecting complexity theory and cryptographic protocol design. The course is aimed at students who already have background in theoretical computer science and want to see how proof systems developed into the succinct arguments used in modern cryptographic applications. As with other MIT OCW offerings, all course materials are freely available online with no certificate or fee attached, following MIT's open publication model under a Creative Commons license.