Quantum Computer Systems Design I: Intro to Quantum Computation and Programming 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

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

Examines quantum system inefficiencies, which is relevant to the development of quantum computing systems

Explores superconducting qubits, which are part of the next generation of quantum computing technology

Covers parallel and sequential execution of quantum gates, which is important for scaling quantum algorithms

Requires access to computer hardware and software to complete homework assignments

This course is part of a series on quantum computing

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 I: Intro to Quantum Computation and Programming with these activities:

Review Quantum Mechanics

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This course builds on concepts of quantum mechanics, so it will be helpful to review the basics in advance.

Browse courses on Quantum Mechanics

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Re-read your notes from a previous Quantum Mechanics course.
Review online resources such as Khan Academy or Coursera.

Quantum Computing Meetups

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Networking with other quantum computing professionals can help you stay up-to-date on the latest developments and find opportunities.

Browse courses on Networking

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Find local or online quantum computing meetups.
Attend meetups and participate in discussions.
Connect with other attendees on LinkedIn.

Review Linear Algebra

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Understanding linear algebra is critical for understanding quantum mechanics.

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Review the basics of linear algebra, including vectors, matrices, and vector spaces.
Practice solving linear equations and systems of linear equations.
Review the concepts of eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

Six other activities

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Develop a presentation on quantum computing basics

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Explaining the fundamentals of quantum computing to an audience aids in solidifying one's own understanding.

Browse courses on Quantum Mechanics

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Research the key concepts of quantum computing
Write a presentation outline
Design slides that illustrate the concepts
Practice delivering the presentation

Practice Quantum Gate Decomposition

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Quantum gate decomposition is a fundamental skill in quantum computing.

Browse courses on Quantum Circuits

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Start with a quantum circuit and decompose it into a series of simpler gates.
Use the properties of quantum gates to optimize the circuit.
Practice decomposing different types of quantum circuits.

Simulate quantum circuits

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Simulating quantum circuits helps solidify the understanding of quantum logic gates and their behavior.

Browse courses on Quantum Circuits

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Set up a quantum computing simulator
Write a quantum circuit using a quantum programming language
Simulate the circuit to observe the behavior of the qubits

Tutorial: Quantum Algorithm Implementation in Qiskit

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Qiskit is a powerful tool for implementing quantum algorithms.

Browse courses on Quantum Algorithms

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Find a tutorial on implementing a quantum algorithm in Qiskit.
Follow the tutorial step-by-step.
Modify the code to experiment with different parameters.

Quantum Computing Project

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Applying quantum computing concepts to a real-world problem is a great way to solidify your understanding.

Browse courses on Quantum Algorithms

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Choose a quantum computing problem to solve.
Design and implement a quantum algorithm to solve the problem.
Test and evaluate your algorithm.
Write a report on your project.

Contribute to an Open-Source Quantum Computing Project

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Contributing to an open-source project is a great way to learn about quantum computing and get involved in the community.

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Find an open-source quantum computing project to contribute to.
Read the project's documentation and codebase.
Identify a bug or feature to work on.
Implement your fix or feature and submit a pull request.

Career center

Learners who complete Quantum Computer Systems Design I: Intro to Quantum Computation and Programming will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Quantum Software Architect

Quantum Software Architects lead the design, development, and maintenance of enterprise software programs and applications in the field of quantum computing. This course would help someone in this field by teaching them the design principles of full-stack quantum software design. It would also teach them how to apply classical software techniques to improve quantum hardware reliability and performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Software Architect

Quantum Software Developer

Quantum Software Developers build and maintain software systems using quantum computing principles. Those in this field may find this course helpful because it covers topics such as quantum processor microarchitecture, quantum program compilation, and qubit memory management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Software Developer

Quantum Computing Researcher

Quantum Computing Researchers work on the theoretical and practical aspects of quantum computing. They develop new algorithms and techniques for quantum computers, and they investigate the potential applications of quantum computing in various fields. Those in this field may find this course helpful because it covers the fundamental rules of quantum computing, such as the Bloch Sphere and the Feynman Path Sum.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Computing Researcher

Quantum Hardware Engineer

Quantum Hardware Engineers design, develop, and maintain quantum computing hardware. This course could be helpful for those in this field because it teaches about the design principles of quantum computer systems, such as qubit technology and quantum processor microarchitecture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Hardware Engineer

Quantum Information Scientist

Quantum Information Scientists develop and apply mathematical models and theories to understand and describe the behavior of quantum systems. Those in this field may find this course helpful because it covers the fundamental rules of quantum computing, such as the Bloch Sphere and the Feynman Path Sum.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Information Scientist

Quantum Computing Physicist

Quantum Computing Physicists apply the principles of physics to the design, development, and operation of quantum computers. This course may be helpful to those in this field because it teaches about the fundamental rules of quantum computing, such as the Bloch Sphere and the Feynman Path Sum.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Computing Physicist

Quantum Computing Mathematician

Quantum Computing Mathematicians develop and apply mathematical models and theories to understand and describe the behavior of quantum systems. Those in this field may find this course helpful because it covers the fundamental rules of quantum computing, such as the Bloch Sphere and the Feynman Path Sum.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Computing Mathematician

Quantum Computing Programmer

Quantum Computing Programmers develop and maintain software systems using quantum computing principles. Those in this field may find this course helpful because it covers topics such as quantum processor microarchitecture, quantum program compilation, and qubit memory management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Computing Programmer

Quantum Computing Engineer

Quantum Computing Engineers design, develop, and maintain quantum computing systems. This course could be helpful for those in this field because it teaches about the design principles of quantum computer systems, such as qubit technology and quantum processor microarchitecture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Computing Engineer

Quantum Computing Sales Engineer

Quantum Computing Sales Engineers sell and support quantum computing products and services. This course may be helpful to those in this field because it covers a variety of topics in quantum computing, including quantum processor microarchitecture, quantum program compilation, and qubit memory management.

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

Quantum Computing Policy Analyst

Quantum Computing Policy Analysts analyze and develop policies related to the use of quantum computing technology. This course may be helpful to those in this field because it covers a variety of topics in quantum computing, including quantum processor microarchitecture, quantum program compilation, and qubit memory management.

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

Quantum Computing Analyst

Quantum Computing Analysts analyze and interpret data from quantum computing experiments. This course may be helpful to those in this field because it covers a variety of topics in quantum computing, including quantum processor microarchitecture, quantum program compilation, and qubit memory management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Computing Analyst

Quantum Computing Scientist

Quantum Computing Scientists research and develop new quantum computing technologies and applications. This course may be helpful to those in this field because it covers a variety of topics in quantum computing, including quantum processor microarchitecture, quantum program compilation, and qubit memory management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Computing Scientist

Quantum Computing Educator

Quantum Computing Educators teach and train students in the field of quantum computing. This course may be helpful to those in this field because it covers a variety of topics in quantum computing, including quantum processor microarchitecture, quantum program compilation, and qubit memory management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Computing Educator

Quantum Computing Consultant

Quantum Computing Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on how to use quantum computing technology. This course may be helpful to those in this field because it covers a variety of topics in quantum computing, including quantum processor microarchitecture, quantum program compilation, and qubit memory management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantum Computing Consultant