M.Sc. (Applied Mathematics) / Entanglement is a quantum resource with applications in quantum communication as well as quantum computing amongst others. Since quantum entanglement is such an abstract concept numerous mathematical measures exist. Some of these have a purely theoretic purpose whereas others play a role in describing the magnitude of entanglement of a system. In quantum systems energy level crossing may occur. Energy levels in quantum systems tend to repel each other so when any type of degeneracy occurs where the energy levels coalesce or cross it is of interest to us. Two such points of degeneracy are exceptional and diabolic points. When these occur it is useful to investigate these points in specific systems and observe level crossing. In this thesis we mainly investigate the relationship between entanglement, energy level crossing and symmetry as well as the exceptional and diabolic points of specific systems. We are especially interested in systems described by spin and Fermi operators.

M.Sc. / In this thesis we study the techniques used to calculate the Hamilton operators related to linear optical quantum computing. We also discuss the basic building blocks of linear optical quantum computing (LOQC) by looking at the logic gates and the physical instruments of which they are made.