PHYS 4481

Last Updated

  • Schedule of Classes - April 13, 2023 2:00PM EDT
  • Course Catalog - April 12, 2023 7:14PM EDT

PHYS 4481
Quantum Information Processing

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2022-2023.

Hardware that exploits quantum phenomena can dramatically alter the nature of computation. Though constructing a general purpose quantum computer remains a formidable technological challenge, there has been much recent experimental progress. In addition, the theory of quantum computation is of interest in itself, offering new perspectives on the nature of computation and information, as well as providing novel insights into the conceptual puzzles posed by quantum theory. This course is intended for physicists, unfamiliar with computational complexity theory or cryptography, and for computer scientists and mathematicians with prior exposure to quantum mechanics. Topics include: simple quantum algorithms, error correction, cryptography, teleportation, and uses of quantum computing devices either currently available or to be available in the near future.

When Offered Fall.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: a prior course in quantum mechanics (such as PHYS 3316 or AEP 3610). Prior familiarity with group theory is very helpful.

Distribution Category (PBS-AS, PHS-AS, SMR-AS)

View Enrollment Information

Syllabi: none

  •  8360 PHYS 4481   LEC 001

  • Instruction Mode: In Person
    Due to the introduction of a new course starting in Spring 2023: AEP 3100 (Introductory Quantum Computing, to be given by Peter McMahon, and intended to give a gentler entry to the material for intermediate-level undergraduates), the existing Physics 4481-7681 / AEP 4812-7681 / CS 4812 will transition back in Fall 2022 more towards upper-level undergraduates and graduate students. That means it will assume more in the way of prior familiarity with quantum mechanics and associated mathematics than it has in recent years, in order to be able to cover more advanced material towards the end of the semester. Depending on interests of students, that could include topics such as measures of entanglement (Von Neumann and Renyi entropy, purity, mutual information), evolution/manipulation of quantum states (weak measurements, quantum channels, Clifford group simulations), behavior of many-body systems (Area-law and volume-law entropy scaling, eigenstate thermalization hypothesis), and related. Go to https://pgcourse.infosci.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/waitlist.py for permission to enroll.

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