OVERVIEW

The aim of this course is to illustrate the basic principles of quantum computation and quantum information. The main experimental platforms (trapped ions and superconducting circuits) where such quantum technologies are implemented will be also discussed.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course will provide the key conceptual tools needed to understand the most recent developments in the field of quantum computation and quantum information. Great attention will be devoted to explain quantum cryptography protocols, quantum algorithms (Deutsch, Grover, Shor) and to discuss the main physical implementation of qubits (trapped ions, superconducting qubits, quantum dots).

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Secure quantum key distributions for the data transfer among banks and the recent production of scientific papers sporting results obtained with quantum computer accessible in the Cloud (IBM, Rigetti) are only two of the various examples of how the relevance of quantum technologies is progressively growing in our everyday life. Starting from a critical revision of the basic concepts of quantum mechanics such as two level system (paradigm of a qubit, the fundamental building block of quantum logic) and harmonic oscillators, as well as their interaction, this course will provide the fundamentals to understand and handle concepts like quantum superposition, entanglement and quantum correlations. These ideas are at the core of the development of quantum cryptography and quantum algorithms. The advantages and limitations of state-of-the-art technologies for the concrete development of finely-controllable two level systems (trapped ions and superconducting qubits) as well as possible future game-changers will be also discussed in details.

PREREQUISITES

None

TEACHING METHODS

Blackboard lectures.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

0. Introduction to the course  

   0.1 What are quantum technologies? 

   0.2 Quantum information and quantum communication 

1. Few words about classical logic 

   1.1 Abstract representation of bits 

   1.2 Classical logical operations 

   1.3 Single-bit reversible operations 

   1.4 Shannon entropy 

   1.5 von Neumann entropy 

   1.6 Two-bit reversible operations 

2. What is a quantum bit? 

   2.1 The polarization of light

   2.2 Photon polarization

   2.3 Two level system: a paradigm for a qubit

   2.4 Basic prerequisites: Pauli matrices, time evolution of discrete level systems

3. Manipulation of qubits 

   3.1 Dynamical evolution

   3.2 Rabi oscillations

   3.3 General solution of a two level system 

4 Quantum harmonic oscillator reloaded 

   4.1 Number states 

   4.2 Coherent states

   4.3 Squeezed states

   4.4 Wigner function

5. Quantum correlations 

   5.1 Two-qubit states 

   5.2 Entanglement of two-qubit states 

   5.3 Density operator: pure and mixed states 

   5.4 The Bell inequalities 

   5.5 No cloning-theorem

   5.6 Quantum cryptography

6.  Quantum algorithms  

   6.1 Quantum logic gates 

   6.2 Quantum teleportation 

   6.3 Deutsch algorithm 

   6.4 Grover search algorithm 

   6.5 Quantum error correction protocols 

7. Physical realization

   7.1 Di Vincenzo’s Criteria for quantum computation 

   7.2 Few words about D-Wave and quantum annealers

   7.3 Trapped ions 

   7.4  Quantization of an LC circuit

   7.5 Josephson junction in the Feynman description and superconducting circuits 

   7.6 Charge qubit 

   7.7 Transmon

   7.8 Few words about circuit QED

 8 Simple model of decoherence

   (Hands-on demo of the IBM Quantum Computer)

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

M. Le Bellac “A short Introduction to Quantum Information and Quantum Computation”. Cambridge University Press (2006).

R. P. Feynman “Lectures on Physics” vol. 3

N. K. Langford “Circuit QED-Lecture Notes”

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

DARIO FERRARO (President)

NICCOLO' TRAVERSO ZIANI

FABIO CAVALIERE (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

See the calendar at the link: 

https://corsi.unige.it/corsi/8758/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam held on the blackboard.  

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral exam lasts about 40 minutes.It is articulated on a predefined part and developed by the student and by further questions that focus on the entire exam program.

In this way it is possible to check the level of understanding and comprehension of the main subjects of the course.