Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2022 - PHYS 416 D100

Introduction to Quantum Information Science (3)

Class Number: 7173

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 10 – Apr 11, 2022: Tue, Thu, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 20, 2022
    Wed, 12:00–3:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    PHYS 385; PHYS 384 or both MATH 314 and MATH 419, or equivalent. All prerequisite courses require a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Includes topics such as qubits, density matrices, mixed states, entanglement, basic quantum algorithms, quantum cryptography, computational models and complexity, introductory quantum error correction, and applications. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

*Students who took `Introduction to Quantum Information Science’ in Spring 2019 (PHYS 492 or PHYS 881) cannot take this course for credit.

*Depending on the number of students registered, lectures in the last two weeks will be reserved for group presentations.

Content:
Basics of quantum information (density matrix, gates, measurement, channel)
Entanglement (Bell’s inequality, teleportation, entanglement measures)
Errors and correction strategies (decoherence, quantum error correction code)
Quantum computation and simulation (circuit model, algorithm, adiabatic model)
Quantum communication (dense coding, quantum key distribution)
Optional: physical implementations of quantum devices (e.g. trapped ion, photons, superconductors…), quantum sensing

Grading

  • Assignments 40%
  • Presentation 30%
  • Attendance in presentation 10%
  • Final Exam 20%

NOTES:

Assignments:Roughly 5 assignments will be given.  Assignments will be submitted electronically to the instructor.  Marks will be deducted for late submission.
In each assignment, questions worth roughly 25% of total marks will be optional to PHYS 416 students, though they can get bonus marks if they attempt.

Exam:
A short exam (~2 hour) will be conducted at the end of semester.  Its aim is to ensure that students have learnt the *basic* principles and techniques of quantum information science from the course.

 

A question that worth roughly 25% of total marks will be optional to PHYS 416 students, though they can get bonus marks if they attempt.

Presentations:
Each graduate student (PHYS 816) and a team with maximum two undergraduate students (PHYS 416) will study a classic topic in quantum information science.  A 30-minute tutorial style talk will be given in the last few lectures of the semester.  All students are required to attend all the presentations.  Graduate (PHYS 816) students are also required to actively participate: attendees should ask questions at the end of the talk, and presenters should be prepared to answer questions from classmates and the instructor. 

The grading for presentations roughly follow the criteria:
A  (Material is explained in a clear way that most classmates can understand, questions answered politely)
B  (Most essential parts in the material is covered, although some of the points are not very clear)
C-D  (Several main points in the material is lacking)
F  (Irrelevant talk)

The grading for presentation participation roughly follow the criteria:
A  (asking insightful questions in most talks; polite)
B  (occasionally asking related questions; polite)
C-D  (rarely asking questions or questions are irrelevant; impolite/offensive)
F  (no attendance)

Teams have to decide the presentation topic by the end of February.  Topics are chosen in a first-come-first-serve basis.  The topic could not overlap with the research of anyone in the team.  Possible topics include (list will be updated):

- Linear optics quantum computing (Knill Laflamme Milburn scheme)
- Quantum repeater (Duan Lukin Cirac Zoller scheme)
- Quantum machine learning (Harrow Hassidim Lloyd scheme)
- Variational quantum eigensolver
- Quantum secret sharing
- Quantum random number generator
- Deterministic quantum computation with 1 qubit (DQC1)
- Quantum Fisher Information
- Measurement-based quantum computation
- Continuous-variable measurement-based quantum computation
- (Impossibility of) quantum bit commitment
- Quantum sensing with Schroedinger’s Cat state
- Bosonsampling
- Any other topic that is approved by the instructor

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Recommended Textbook:
“Quantum computation and quantum information” by Michael A. Nielsen & Isaac L. Chuang (Cambridge University Press, 2010)  (At least 3 copies are reserved at library)

 

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Students who cannot write their exam during the course's scheduled exam time must request accommodation from their instructor in writing, clearly stating the reason for this request, within one week of the final exam schedule being posted.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2022

Teaching at SFU in spring 2022 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with safety plans in place.  Some courses will still be offered through remote methods, and if so, this will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes.  You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).

Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required.  You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the spring 2022 term.