Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Quantum Information and Computation

In course

PHYS-641: Quantum Computing

After introducing the foundations of classical and quantum information theory, and quantum measurement, the course will address the theory and practice of digital quantum computing, covering fundamental and advanced topics such as recent quantum algorithms ...

Description

This lecture introduces the concepts of quantum information and computation, discussing quantum mechanics implications, reversible time evolution, advantages of quantum computation, many-body problems, quantum Merlin-Arthur protocol, quantum simulation, quantum error correction, and quantum algorithms like Deutsch's and Grover's. It also covers the challenges of noisy intermediate-scale quantum hardware and the development of quantum approximate optimization algorithms.

Instructor

Vincenzo Savona

Vincenzo Savona studied physics in Pisa at the Scuola Normale Superiore and the University of Pisa, prior to completing his PhD at the EPFL's Institute of Theoretical Physics. Subsequently he did post-doctoral work, first at the EPFL and then in the physics department of the Humboldt University of Berlin. In 2002, he returned to the EPFL to create his own research group, receiving a "professeur boursier" fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation. In 2006, he was appointed tenure-track assistant professor at the EPFL and joined the NCCR for Quantum Photonics. In 2010 he was appointed associate professor. Currently he directs the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics of Nanosystems.

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Theoretical computer science

Theory of computation: Quantum computing

Related concepts (32)

Quantum computing

A quantum computer is a computer that exploits quantum mechanical phenomena. At small scales, physical matter exhibits properties of both particles and waves, and quantum computing leverages this behavior, specifically quantum superposition and entanglement, using specialized hardware that supports the preparation and manipulation of quantum states. Classical physics cannot explain the operation of these quantum devices, and a scalable quantum computer could perform some calculations exponentially faster than any modern "classical" computer.

Quantum information

Quantum information is the information of the state of a quantum system. It is the basic entity of study in quantum information theory, and can be manipulated using quantum information processing techniques. Quantum information refers to both the technical definition in terms of Von Neumann entropy and the general computational term. It is an interdisciplinary field that involves quantum mechanics, computer science, information theory, philosophy and cryptography among other fields.

Quantum information science

Quantum information science is a field that combines the principles of quantum mechanics with information science to study the processing, analysis, and transmission of information. It covers both theoretical and experimental aspects of quantum physics, including the limits of what can be achieved with quantum information. The term quantum information theory is sometimes used, but it does not include experimental research and can be confused with a subfield of quantum information science that deals with the processing of quantum information.

Quantum algorithm

In quantum computing, a quantum algorithm is an algorithm which runs on a realistic model of quantum computation, the most commonly used model being the quantum circuit model of computation. A classical (or non-quantum) algorithm is a finite sequence of instructions, or a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem, where each step or instruction can be performed on a classical computer. Similarly, a quantum algorithm is a step-by-step procedure, where each of the steps can be performed on a quantum computer.

Quantum programming

Quantum programming is the process of designing or assembling sequences of instructions, called quantum circuits, using gates, switches, and operators to manipulate a quantum system for a desired outcome or results of a given experiment. Quantum circuit algorithms can be implemented on integrated circuits, conducted with instrumentation, or written in a programming language for use with a quantum computer or a quantum processor. With quantum processor based systems, quantum programming languages help express quantum algorithms using high-level constructs.

Related lectures (54)

Quantum Information and Computing

Covers quantum information, computing, algorithms, error correction, and challenges in the field.

The Deutsch and Deutsch-Jozsa Algorithms

Covers the Deutsch and Deutsch-Jozsa algorithms in quantum computing, explaining the principles behind them and their implications.

Quantum Channels: Lecture 08 - Part 2

Covers the evolution of quantum systems and the dynamics of open quantum systems.

The Period Finding Algorithm

Explores the Quantum Phase Estimation method for finding the period of a function using an oracle.

Shor's Factoring Algorithm