SC 2023 Semilab: A Glimpse Into Quantum Computers
by Julia Kempe
Come and see how quantum computers and quantum cryptography work! In this semilab we will cover the essential elements of quantum computing. Did you know that in the small scale physical world a particle can be in two different states at once? This is the physics behind "Schroedinger's cat", which is both dead and alive, until you look. We will go through definitions and visuals of so called qubits, quantum bits, at the core of a quantum computer. After exploring this, we will try to understand and visualize quantum entanglement, which allows for what Einstein called "spooky action at a distance". We will study how quantum cryptography and quantum teleportation work, both with visual tools and then with some math. Then, we will study the simplest quantum algorithms, which are at the core of accelerated "quantum" search and breaking current cryptography. This course should develop your understanding of the principles of quantum computing.
We will aim to be not too math heavy, but some exposure to 2x2 or 4x4 matrices (and basic algebra) will be helpful.