Introduction to Quantum Computing

The purpose of the "Introduction to Quantum Computing" school is to train the student in the use of new quantum machines that have become a reality since the beginning of the century. Constantly evolving, these machines require specific skills to be able to use them. Even if their technological development is not yet fully mature, it is strategically very important to learn right away how to use these new devices, which are profoundly different from the computers we usually use. During the school the student, after having reviewed the basics of quantum mechanics and linear algebra, will face the practical and theoretical treatment of some of the most famous quantum concepts and algorithms on the different machines available today. The course is completed by offering practical hands-on sections on the emulators installed on our HPC machines

Topics

Introduction to different Quantum Hardwares and Quantum Softwares. Linear algebra Recap (Dirac notation, Hermitian Matrices, tensor product, Schmidt decomposition).  Postulates of quantum mechanics (Qubit states , unitary evolution, measurement). Quantum gates. Entanglement. Quantum Parallelism. Quantum Error Correction. Introduction to General Purpose Quantum Algorithms with examples. Introduction to NISQ Quantum Algorithms with examples. Adiabatic quantum computing (AQC) and Quantum Annealing (QA). Hands-on sessions.

Target Audience

The course is aimed at scientific university students, as well as PhD students and researchers. In principle, anyone who meets the required prerequisites can send a request to participate.

Prerequisites

Knowledge of mathematics, in particular linear algebra. Knowledge of python programming. Knowledge of Unix environments. Knowledge of quantum mechanics is not a fundamental prerequisite, even if it represents a considerable help for understanding the topics covered.