Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working with Noisy Systems from edX

This quantum computing course explores the basic design principles of today's quantum computer systems. In this course, students will learn to work with the IBM Qiskit software tools to write simple programs in Python and execute them on cloud-accessible quantum hardware. Topics covered in this course include:

Introduction to systems research in quantum computing
Fundamental rules in quantum computing, Bloch Sphere, Feynman Path Sum
Sequential and parallel execution of quantum gates, EPR pair, no-cloning theorem, quantum teleportation
Medium-size algorithms for NISQ (near-term intermediate scale quantum) computers
Quantum processor microarchitecture: classical and quantum control
Quantum program compilation and qubit memory management

Keywords: quantum computing, computer science, linear algebra, compiler, circuit optimization, python, qiskit, quantum algorithms, quantum technology, superposition, entanglement, qubit technology, superconducting qubit, transmon qubit, ion-trap qubit, photonic qubit, real quantum computers

What you'll learn

Understand design principles of full-stack quantum software design
Understand several examples of quantum system inefficiencies
Learn how to apply several classical software techniques to improve quantum hardware reliability and performance
Learn examples of how classical software techniques can be applied to make quantum systems more reliable and efficient
Learn how to think about the overall design of a quantum system and how the software and hardware work together
Develop unique skills to be more competitive in seeking a position in quantum software development

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand design principles of full-stack quantum software design
Understand several examples of quantum system inefficiencies
Learn how to apply several classical software techniques to improve quantum hardware reliability and performance

Learn examples of how classical software techniques can be applied to make quantum systems more reliable and efficient
Learn how to think about the overall design of a quantum system and how the software and hardware work together
Develop unique skills to be more competitive in seeking a position in quantum software development

Understand design principles of full-stack quantum software design
Understand several examples of quantum system inefficiencies
Learn how to apply several classical software techniques to improve quantum hardware reliability and performance
Learn examples of how classical software techniques can be applied to make quantum systems more reliable and efficient
Learn how to think about the overall design of a quantum system and how the software and hardware work together
Develop unique skills to be more competitive in seeking a position in quantum software development

Syllabus

Textbooks

(Required) Quantum Computer Systems (QCS). Ding and Chong. (

)

(Open) Learn Quantum Computation using Qiskit. IBM Qiskit. (

(Optional) Quantum Computation and Quantum Information (QCQI). Nielsen and Chuang. (

Schedule

Module 1 (Intro to Quantum Computation and Programming)

Lec 00 - Quantum Computing Systems – Current State-of-Play

Lec 01 - From bits to qubits

Lec 02 - QASM and logic gate decomposition

Lec 03 - Basic quantum programs

Module 2 (Principles of Quantum Architecture)

Lec 04 - Program compilation and synthesis

Lec 05 - Program compilation and synthesis II

Lec 06 - Gate scheduling and parallelism

Lec 07 - Qubit mapping and memory management

Module 3 (Working with Noisy Systems)

Lec 08 - NISQ algorithms

Lec 19 - Noisy quantum systems

Lec 10 - Noise-aware quantum compiling

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores quantum computing systems and their design principles, which is standard in industry

Taught by Fred Chong, Jonathan Baker, Yongshan Ding, and Casey Duckering, who are recognized for their work in quantum computing

Develops skills and knowledge in quantum computing, which are core skills for quantum software development

Provides hands-on experience with IBM Qiskit software tools and cloud-accessible quantum hardware

Covers a range of topics relevant to quantum computing, including quantum gates, quantum algorithms, and quantum hardware architectures

Requires prerequisites in linear algebra, compiler, and circuit optimization, which may not be suitable for beginners

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working with Noisy Systems with these activities:

Review linear algebra

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Linear algebra is a fundamental tool for understanding quantum computing.

Browse courses on Linear Algebra

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Review the basics of linear algebra.
Practice solving linear algebra problems.

Review quantum mechanics

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Quantum mechanics is the foundation of quantum computing.

Browse courses on Quantum Mechanics

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Review the basics of quantum mechanics.
Practice solving quantum mechanics problems.

Follow the Qiskit tutorials

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The Qiskit tutorials provide a great way to learn the basics of quantum computing and how to use Qiskit to write and run quantum programs.

Browse courses on Qiskit

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Visit the Qiskit website.
Choose a tutorial.
Follow the steps in the tutorial.

Five other activities

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Build a simple quantum circuit

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Building a simple quantum circuit will help you understand the basic principles of quantum computing and how to use Qiskit to write and run quantum programs.

Browse courses on Qiskit

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Install the Qiskit SDK.
Create a new Qiskit project.
Write a simple quantum circuit.
Run your circuit on a quantum simulator.

Join a quantum computing study group

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Joining a quantum computing study group will allow you to connect with other students and researchers who are interested in quantum computing.

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Find a quantum computing study group.
Attend the study group meetings.
Participate in the discussions.

Solve quantum computing problems

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Solving quantum computing problems will help you develop your problem-solving skills and your understanding of quantum computing.

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Find a quantum computing problem to solve.
Design a quantum circuit to solve the problem.
Run your circuit on a quantum simulator.
Analyze the results.

Read Quantum Computation and Quantum Information

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Quantum Computation and Quantum Information is a classic textbook on quantum computing.

View QUANTUM COMPUTATION+QUANTUM INFORMA on Amazon

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Read the book.
Work through the exercises.

Volunteer at a quantum computing lab

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Volunteering at a quantum computing lab will give you hands-on experience with quantum computing and allow you to network with other people in the field.

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Start volunteering.
Find a quantum computing lab that is looking for volunteers.
Apply to volunteer.
Complete the volunteer training program.

Career center

Learners who complete Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working with Noisy Systems will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Quantum Software Engineer

Quantum Software Engineers design, develop, and test software for quantum computers. With a high-performance computing background, one would use knowledge from quantum computing courses to program quantum computers to solve complex computational problems. Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working With Noisy Systems provides a solid foundation to build upon for a career in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Software Engineer

Quantum Architect

Quantum Architects lead the design and development of quantum hardware, software, and algorithms. They work with a multidisciplinary team in quantum technologies that include software engineers, hardware engineers, and physicists. Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working With Noisy Systems lays the groundwork with hardware components and introduces noise aware quantum compiling. Understanding how noise aware quantum compiling works and the challenges associated with noisy systems is helpful for those wishing to be Quantum Architects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Architect

Quantum Programmer

Quantum Programmers develop and write programs for quantum computers. These programs can be used to solve a variety of problems, from drug discovery to materials science. Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working With Noisy Systems provides a solid foundation for a career in this field. The course covers topics such as quantum program compilation, synthesis, and qubit memory management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Programmer

Quantum Hardware Engineer

Quantum Hardware Engineers design, develop, and test quantum computer hardware. They work with a multidisciplinary team in quantum technologies that include software engineers, hardware engineers, and physicists. Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working With Noisy Systems can help build a strong foundation for a career in this field. The course covers topics such as quantum program compilation, synthesis, and qubit memory management. This course would be beneficial to someone who wants to be a quantum hardware engineer to become familiar with these concepts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Hardware Engineer

University Professor

University Professors hold positions where they conduct and teach research in a college or university setting. Through quantum simulation, it is possible to explore complex scientific questions within a simulated environment. They write papers on their research and give presentations at conferences. Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working With Noisy Systems can help build a strong foundation for a career in this field. The course helps students become familiar with writing simple quantum programs and executing them on cloud-accessible quantum hardware.

See salaries and explore the career path for University Professor

Quantum Computing Consultant

Quantum Computing Consultants advise clients on how to use quantum computing to solve business problems. They may also work with clients to develop and implement quantum computing solutions. A background in quantum computing would be very helpful for a career in this field. Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working With Noisy Systems introduces topics such as quantum program compilation, synthesis, and qubit memory management. This course would be a great way to get a head start in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Computing Consultant

Research Scientist

Research Scientists are tasked with performing independent research to gain a deeper understanding of complex topics. They work in various fields such as physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science. Those with a background in quantum computing can use their knowledge to explore quantum simulation. Familiarity with quantum programming is a must for those doing work in quantum simulation. The concepts and skills learned in Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working With Noisy Systems are beneficial to have for a career in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Research Scientist

Quantum Computing Educator

Quantum Computing Educators teach quantum computing to students at universities and colleges. Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working With Noisy Systems may be helpful course for someone who wants to become a quantum computing educator. The course covers topics such as quantum program compilation, synthesis, and qubit memory management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Computing Educator

Quantum Computing Researcher

Quantum Computing Researchers conduct research in the field of quantum computing. They work on a variety of topics, including quantum algorithms, quantum hardware, and quantum software. Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working With Noisy Systems may be a helpful introductory course for someone who wants to become a quantum computing researcher. The course covers topics such as quantum program compilation, synthesis, and qubit memory management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Computing Researcher

Quantum Technology Developer

Quantum Technology Developers design and develop new quantum technologies. These technologies can be used to solve a variety of problems, from drug discovery to materials science. Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working With Noisy Systems may be a helpful introductory course for someone who wants to become a quantum technology developer. The course covers topics such as quantum program compilation, synthesis, and qubit memory management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Technology Developer

Quantum Computing Sales Engineer

Quantum Computing Sales Engineers sell quantum computing hardware and software to businesses and organizations. Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working With Noisy Systems may be a helpful introductory course for someone who wants to become a quantum computing sales engineer. The course covers topics such as quantum program compilation, synthesis, and qubit memory management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Computing Sales Engineer

Quantum Computing Business Analyst

Quantum Computing Business Analysts work with businesses to help them understand how quantum computing can benefit their operations. Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working With Noisy Systems may be a helpful introductory course for someone who wants to become a quantum computing business analyst. The course covers topics such as quantum program compilation, synthesis, and qubit memory management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Computing Business Analyst

Quantum Algorithm Developer

Quantum Algorithm Developers design and develop new quantum algorithms. These algorithms can be used to solve a variety of problems, from drug discovery to materials science. Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working With Noisy Systems may be a helpful introductory course for someone who wants to become a quantum algorithm developer. The course covers topics such as quantum program compilation, synthesis, and qubit memory management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Algorithm Developer

Quantum Computing Policy Analyst

Quantum Computing Policy Analysts work on policy issues related to quantum computing. They may work for government agencies, think tanks, or corporations. Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working With Noisy Systems may be a helpful introductory course for someone who wants to become a quantum computing policy analyst. The course covers topics such as quantum program compilation, synthesis, and qubit memory management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Computing Policy Analyst

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from data in various forms, both structured and unstructured. They analyze data using advanced machine learning techniques and algorithms to develop predictive models. Data Scientists can use quantum computing to develop more powerful machine learning algorithms. Quantum Computer Systems Design III: Working With Noisy Systems may be a helpful course for someone who wants to become a data scientist who uses quantum computing.

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