This course is not scheduled in 2014-2015. See AP3291-IDEA.

Quantum mechanics, including Dirac notation. Matrix algebra.

Quantum Information Processing aims at harnessing quantum physics to conceive and build devices that could dramatically exceed the capabilities of today's "classical" computation and communciation systems. In this course, we will introduce the basic concepts of this rapidly developing field.

Topics include
(1) Quantum states (pure, mixed)
(2) Quantum gates and circuits
(3) Quantum algorithms
(4) Quantum measurement
(5) Decoherence
(6) Quantum error correction
(7) Quantum communication and cryptography
(8) Implementations and experiments

(1) To understand the operation, potential, and limitations of the main theoretical results (algorithms, error correction, communication)
(2) To be able to use the formalism of quantum information (unitary matrices, Hermitian matrices, state vectors, density matrices, etc)
(3) To obtain an overview of the experimental state of the art, and an appreciation of future prospects.

Weekly class meeting with a one-hour lecture on theory and formalism, and a 45 min presentation/discussion of a significant experimental paper. The paper presentations will be given by the students (possibly in groups of two or three). Everyone is expected to attend the lectures, read the weekly paper and make a short weekly homework.

(1) M.A. Nielsen and I.L. Chuang, “Quantum Computation and Quantum Information”, (Cambridge University Press, 2000).
(2) About 10 scientific articles on important experiments.

Students will be evaluated based on class participation (5%), homeworks (30%), the presentation (15%) and a take-home final exam (50%).

This course is scheduled only once every two years: spring 2012, 2014, 2016