Introduction to Practical Quantum Computing
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| PHYS4041 | Physics and Astronomy | 4 | 10 | Spring UK |
- Code
- PHYS4041
- School
- Physics and Astronomy
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
The module will be in the style of student centered learning, based on projects and presentations, and guided by tutorial sessions. The objective is to cover three general and interrelated set of ideas and methods:
1. Essential Elementary Quantum Mechanics: Qubits: quantum states and superpositions. Entanglement: exponential Hilbert space means exponential computing power? Projective measurements, bases, and tomography. Unitary operators.
2. Quantum Circuits and Algorithms From classical gates to quantum gates: Universal quantum gates. Graphical quantum circuit notation. Important one-, two- and multi-qubit gates. Quantum algorithms and quantum parallelism.
3. Programming near-term Quantum Computers: Basics of qiskit python api for programming IBM quantum computers. Running quantum circuits on a simulated quantum computer. Running quantum circuits on a real quantum computer. Test basic quantum mechanics.
Target Students
PGT students on the Machine Learning in Science MSc programme (U7PMLSCI)
Co-requisites
Modules you must take in the same academic year, or have taken in a previous year, to enrol in this module:
Assessment
- 70% Project 1: 1500-2000 word group report in the style of a Scientific Paper (length depends on group size).
- 30% Presentation 1: Individual 15 minute presentation on an assigned topic
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
The purpose of this module is to provide an introduction to quantum computing with an emphasis on being able to run quantum circuits on existing and near-term quantum computers. It will introduce essential elementary concepts from quantum mechanics and quantum information, as well as exploring how quantum computers may be utilized in the context of machine learning. It will introduce the language of quantum computing—qubits, unitary quantum gates, and quantum circuits—and will consider how quantum parallelism may provide an advantage over existing numerical methods. It will additionally cover the use of basic quantum programming languages with the goal of running simple quantum circuits on simulated and real quantum computers. The module will be accessible to all students of the MLiS MSc irrespective of whether they have any background in quantum mechanics.Learning Outcomes
On completion of the module, students should be familiar with quantum states of multiple qubits, including the concepts of superposition and entanglement.
On completion of the module, students should be familiar with projective measurements of quantum systems, including state tomography and how to extract expectation values of observables.
On completion of the module, students should be able to understand and draw quantum circuit diagrams.
On completion of the module, students should be able to translate between matrix and vector notation, Dirac notation, and quantum circuit diagrams.
On completion of the module, students should be able to write simple scripts to run quantum circuits on simulated and real IBM quantum computers.