Week 0 - Notes
Table of Contents
Week 0 (Qubit by Qubit)
- As this is the first week of the intire course, we had plenty of introduction to the course logistics, so I will make notes about the content given only.
Quantum Computing
- A quantum computer uses properties of quantum mechanics to solve problems (just like a classical computer would do, except for this we use classical physics)
Quantum Mechanics
- It describes how really small objects (AKA quantum objects like atoms and subatomic particles) behave.
- In the quantum world, plenty of strange things can happen: Objects can be in multiple places (superposition), Objects can pass through physical barriers (tunneling), Information can be teleported (teleportation).
The 3 main phenomena
- Superposition, Interference, Entanglement
- These are the 3 quantum phenomena that allow us to design quantum algorithms.
- This field is all about mastering these properties to make computing faster and more powerful.
Applications of Quantum Computing
- Saving lives - Climate change is a threat.
- Globally distributing food - “Could Quantum Computing Help Feed the World?”
- Astrophysics - Search for life in other planets
- Vaccine developtment, Drug Discovery - Simulating quantum systems
- Finance
- Cyber Security
- Biology
- Chemestry
- Aerospace
- Robotics and Machine Learning
Quantum Computers posses advantages in
- Problems that involve too much searching or testing for classical computers to do quickly
- Problems that require secure encryption
- Problems that require simulating quantum mechanical systems
The bigger field
- Quantum Computing is part of a larger field called Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE)
- Quantum computing, Quantum sensing, Quantum networking
Universities (US/UK)
- Search about “The Quantum talent gap”
- The Institute for Quantum Computing — University of Waterloo
- University of Oxford
- Centre for Quantum Information and Foundations - Cambridge
- University of California Berkeley
- University of Maryland — Joint Quantum Institute
- University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) – Division of Quantum Physics and Quantum Information
- University of Chicago — Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE)
- Harvard University — Harvard Quantum Initiative
- MIT — Center for Theoretical Physics
- Unversity of California Riverside
- “Quantum Universities”