QC803: Quantum Platforms and Programming

The Study Board for Science

Teaching language: English
EKA: N310087102
Assessment: Second examiner: Internal
Grading: 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Autumn
Level: Master

STADS ID (UVA): N310087101
ECTS value: 10

Date of Approval: 22-04-2025


Duration: 1 semester

Version: Archive

Entry requirements

None.

Academic preconditions

Students following the course are expected to gain, or to have previously gained, familiarity with quantum computing and its mathematical foundation, corresponding to the simultaneously completing, or having previously completed, an introductory course such as QC801.

Course introduction

Quantum computing, despite its immense potential, remains in its early stages: various methods exist for constructing quantum computers, with no clear best choice currently identified. This course aims to present the state of the art in quantum computing, encompassing both software and hardware perspectives. It provides an overview of the computational paradigms and physical principles underlying contemporary quantum hardware, along with an introduction to programming (selected) quantum devices.


Expected learning outcome

At the end of the course, students are expected to be able to
  • Describe hardware realisations of quantum computers and compare their strengths and weaknesses;
  • Discuss and compare paradigms of quantum computing;
  • Explain DiVincenzo’s criteria for the construction of quantum computers, and relate them to current quantum hardware and paradigms of quantum computing;
  • Solve realistic quantum programming tasks for execution on existing quantum hardware;

Content

In addition to a practical introduction to programming of quantum devices by means of the quantum circuit model, this course will cover a selection of the following topics:
  • Measurement-based quantum computing.
  • Adiabatic quantum computing and quantum annealing.
  • Continuous variables formalism for quantum computing.
  • Topological quantum computing.
  • Quantum computing simulators.
  • DiVincenzo’s criteria for the construction of quantum computers,
  • Hardware realisations of quantum computing, such as photonic, ion-trap, and topological devices.

Literature

See itslearning.

Examination regulations

Exam element a)

Timing

Autumn and January

Tests

Project with oral defense

EKA

N310087102

Assessment

Second examiner: Internal

Grading

7-point grading scale

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

English

Duration

Oral exam - 30 minutes incl. deliberation

Examination aids

All common aids allowed for the project, all written materials allowed during the oral defense.

ECTS value

10

Additional information

Project with an individual oral defense.

The project will be completed during the teaching period in groups of 1-3 students.

Indicative number of lessons

60 hours per semester

Teaching Method

Planned lessons:
Total number of planned lessons: 60

Of which:
Common lessons in classroom/auditorium: 30
Team lessons in classroom: 30

Each week will have two hours of lectures, in which the weekly course material is presented and discussed, and two hours of exercises, in which students solve the weekly exercise sheet individually or in small groups. Exercise classes may also be used to recap weekly course material as necessary.

Other planned teaching activities: 
Reading weekly course material, completing weekly exercise sheet (if not finished during exercise classes), completing mandatory project. 

Teacher responsible

Name E-mail Department
Robin Kaarsgaard Sales kaarsgaard@imada.sdu.dk Institut for Matematik og Datalogi

Additional teachers

Name E-mail Department City
Greyson Potter gkp@imada.sdu.dk Institut for Matematik og Datalogi

Timetable

Administrative Unit

Institut for Matematik og Datalogi (matematik)

Team at Registration

NAT

Offered in

Odense

Recommended course of study

Profile Education Semester Offer period