T-Th 11:00AM-12:30PM
Bren Hall 1423
No class: Oct 15, 22, 27
Extra lecture: Tue, Dec 8, 10:30-12:30pm
Course Overview
This course will provide an introduction to the field of
quantum computation with an emphasis on computational complexity.
Below is a list of some of the topics that will be covered:
Introduction to quantum mechanics from the perspective of quantum information.
Formal models of quantum computation and quantum complexity classes.
Quantum algorithms: quantum fourier transform and applications (including
Shor's algorithm for factoring), quantum search, quantum simulation.
Limitations on quantum computation: lower bounds for
search, the class QMA and hardness results for
computing fundamental properties of quantum systems.
Quantum entanglement, especially as it pertains to computational complexity.
Depending on time, I may give a couple overview lectures on important
areas in quantum computation which we will not have time
to cover in detail. Topics will hopefully include error correction and fault-tolerant
computation as well as quantum cryptography.
Prerequisites
No formal course requirements. Students with a strong background in
either computer science, mathematics, physics or chemstry are welcome to attend.
Course Requirements
Problem sets will be given every two weeks.
Students are also expected to provide typed and formatted
scribe notes for two or three lectures which will be posted on
the course web page. Students may elect to do a project in lieu of the last
problem set. This could be a paper (original work or survey paper) or a
presentation in class.
Reading list
There is no required text for the course.
The following is a list of books and course notes that may be useful.
At the beginning of each lecture, I will point to recommended references
for the material to be presented.
Kitaev, Shen and Vyalyi, Classical and Quantum Computation
Nielsen and Chuang, Quantum Computation and Quantum
Information
Mermin, Quantum Computer Science
Umesh Vazirani's Course Notes on Quantum Computation:
link.
John Preskill's Course Notes on Quantum Computation:
link
.
Scott Aaronson's Course Notes on Quantum Complexity Theory:
link
.
Scott Aaronson's Course Notes on Quantum Computing Since Democritus:
link
.
Qubits, Quantum Mechanics and Computers: Course Notes
link .