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MATH3391: QUANTUM COMPUTING III

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Current modules are subject to change in light of the ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19.

Type Open
Level 3
Credits 20
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Mathematical Sciences

Prerequisites

  • Analysis in Many Variables (MATH2031) AND (Mathematical Physics II (MATH2071) OR Theoretical Physics II (PHYS2631))

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To provide an introduction to the application of quantum systems to processing information, specifically in terms of communication and computing. To study the concept of quantum entanglement and demonstrate that quantum systems have properties that are fundamentally different from those of classical systems.

Content

  • Quantum Mechanics Introduction. Review of wave mechanics, introduction of Dirac notation and the density matrix.
  • Quantum Information. The qubit, Bloch sphere, bipartite systems andconcept of pure and mixed states.
  • Quantum properties and applications. Superdense coding, teleportation, quantum key distribution, EPR paradox, Hidden variable theories and Bell inequalities.
  • Information, entropy and entanglement. Brief introduction to classical information theory including Shannon information and entanglement. Quantum entropy measures, von Neumann entropy, relative entropy and conditional entropy.
  • Classical computing. Universal gates/circuit models, very brief discussion of computational complexity.
  • Quantum computing. Quantum circuit model and universal gates, example algorithms (e.g. Grover's and Shor's), brief discussion of quantum computational complexity and comparison to classical examples (e.g. Shor's algorithm in context of RSA cryptography.)
  • Quantum error correction. Contrast to classical use of redundancy, examples of single qubit errors, use of entanglement to correct errors, example of Shor code. Discussion of error correction in quantum computing, including fault tolerant gates.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • By the end of the module students will: be able to solvenovel and/or complex problems in Quantum Information.
  • have a systematic and coherent understanding of theoreticalmathematics in the field of Quantum Information.
  • have acquired coherent body of knowledge of these subjectsdemonstrated through one or more of the following topic areas:
  • understand concepts of pure and mixed states and bipartite systems
  • Hidden variable theory and the EPR paradox
  • Classical and quantum entropy measures
  • Classical and Quantum computing
  • Quantum error correction

Subject-specific Skills:

  • In addition students will have specialised mathematicalskills in the following areas which can be used in minimal guidance:Modelling.

Key Skills:

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Lectures demonstrate what is required to be learned and theapplication of the theory to practical examples.
  • Assignments for self-study develop problem-solving skills andenable students to test and develop their knowledge andunderstanding.
  • Formatively assessed assignments provide practice in the application of logic and high level of rigour as well as feedback for the students and the lecturer on students' progress.
  • The end-of-year examination assesses the knowledge acquiredand the ability to solve predictable and unpredictable problems.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures422 per week for 20 weeks and 2 in term 31 Hour42 
Problems Classes8Four in each of terms 1 and 21 Hour8 
Preparation and Reading150 
Total200 

Summative Assessment

Component: ExaminationComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Written examination3 Hours100 

Formative Assessment

Eight assignments to be submitted.

More information

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