QSEG 650/PHYS650
Introduction to Quantum Computation and
Quantum Information

Quantum Science and Engineering graduate degree at the University of Delaware

This course is required for the QSE degree. 

Quantum Science and Engineering (QSE) is a discipline focused on understanding and exploiting the unusual behavior of particles and excitations governed by the laws of quantum mechanics. The QSE program at UD has two major components. First, we facilitate interactions and collaboration among the UD faculty working on all aspects of QSE. Second, we train a new generation of scientists and engineers with the skills and knowledge required for the “Quantum Workforce” that will carry this field into the future. 

Course description

This course will introduce quantum computation and quantum information. Essential concepts will be discussed: two-level quantum systems, quantum measurements, entanglement, decoherence, difference between quantum and classical computation, and quantum logic gates. Students will learn to understand the operation of quantum circuits on several examples, including quantum teleportation. Applications of quantum computing will be discussed which will include efficient quantum algorithms (quantum Fourier transform and its applications and quantum search algorithms) and quantum simulations. Quantum cryptography and quantum key distribution will be introduced with their applications. The quantum error-correction codes will be discussed, with the example of an error-correction circuit considered in detail. Examples of physical implementations of some concepts will be given throughout the course for illustration and preparation for the quantum hardware course. This course will present students with a broad overview of the quantum information field, its rapid progress, and relevant scientific literature. To further this goal, the students will carry out literature research on a quantum computing topic of their choice (approved by the course instructor), write a paper and present their topic in class.

Lectures 1 - 2

Introduction: The weird world of quantum information
What would you do with a 1000 qubits?

Lectures 3 - 4

A very brief introduction to quantum mechanics

Lectures 5 - 6

A very brief introduction to computer science

Lecture 7

Quantum gates and quantum circuits

Lecture 8

Quantum teleportation

Lecture 9

Building quantum computers: real qubits and quantum gates
Example of neutral atoms

Lecture 10

Quantum error correction

Lecture 11

Quantum error correction contd.

Lecture 12

More on universal quantum gates.  Measurement

Lecture 13

Public and private key cryptography

Modular arithmetic.  Classical factoring algorithm.

The mathematical guts of RSA encryption

Lecture 14

Shor’s algorithm (quantum factoring algorithm)

Lecture 15

Quantum parallelism. Deutch’s algorithm

Lectures 16 - 17

 Grover’s search (quantum search algorithm)

Lecture 18

Quantum information processing with trapped ions

Lecture 19

Quantum communication and quantum cryptography