Guide to Quantum Computing

Source: Roche — Quantum Computers: Calculating the Unimaginable

This blog contains a guide to get started with Quantum Computing as well as to get in-depth knowledge of the field. The guide is divided into four sections:

1. Prerequisites: Topics where experience is needed before starting off with quantum computing.
2. Basics: This contains resources for beginners.
3. Advanced Topics: This contains resources for better insights into various specific fields in quantum computing and quantum information.
4. Implementations: This contains some frameworks which you can use to implement quantum computing and quantum information concepts.

I. Prerequisites

1. Basic knowledge of linear algebra.
2. Knowledge of basic quantum mechanics is preferable but not necessary. It can be covered in a quantum computing book mentioned in the basics section.

II. Basics

Note: An understanding of Deutsch’s Algorithm, Deutsch-Jozsa Algorithm, Simon’s Algorithm, Grover’s Algorithm and construction of quantum circuits is important before moving to more advanced topics such as phase estimation algorithm, quantum Fourier transform, Shor’s algorithm and the advanced section. This can be covered through the relevant lecture notes and books mentioned below.

1. Lecture Notes

• John Watrous (Chapters 1–13)
• John Preskill (Follow the website)

2. Books (Reading any one of the below will suffice)

• An Introduction to Quantum Computing — Philip Kaye, Raymond Laflamme and Michele Mosca (Chapters 1–8)
• Quantum Computing: A Gentle Introduction — Eleanor Rieffel and Wolfgang Polak (Chapters 1–9)
• Quantum Computation and Quantum Information — Isaac Chuang and Michael Nielsen (Chapters 1–6) (This book is slightly more advanced than the others)

III. Advanced topics

The below mentioned are some of the resources to make you familiar with certain advanced topics and various different fields.

Note: These resources are references for specific topics and doubts. It is not necessary to read the entire book or website.

1. Quantum Information Theory

• The Theory of Quantum Information by John Watrous
• Quantum Computation and Quantum Information — Isaac Chuang and Michael Nielsen (Chapter 8 -12)
• John Preskill’s Lectures

2. Quantum Error correction

• Lecture Notes by John Watrous (Lect 14–17)
• Quantum Computing: A Gentle Introduction — Eleanor Rieffel and Wolfgang Polak (Chapters 11–13)
• Quantum Computation and Quantum Information — Isaac Chuang and Michael Nielsen (Chapters 10)
• An Introduction to Quantum Computing — Philip Kaye, Raymond Laflamme and Michele Mosca (Chapters 10)

3. Quantum Algorithms

• Quantum Algorithm Zoo: Comprehensive Catalog of Quantum Algorithms
• Lecture notes on Quantum algorithms — Andrew Childs

4. Quantum Cryptography and Communication

• Course on edX: Quantum Cryptography
• Lecture Notes by John Watrous (Lect 18–21)

5. Quantum Protocols and Quantum Internet

• Quantum Protocol Zoo: Open repository of protocols for quantum networks and quantum internet
• Quantum Internet Ted Talk by Stephanie Wehner
• Course on edX: Architecture, Algorithms, and Protocols of a Quantum Computer and Quantum Internet

6. Quantum Machine Learning

• Penny Lane notes
• Quantum Machine Learning course on edX

IV. Implementations

Below are certain platforms for designing and simulating quantum circuits. Here, you can also get results from a real quantum computer!

1. IBM: IBM Quantum Experience — Dashboard

2. Microsoft: Microsoft Quantum Development Kit

3. Rigetti: Rigetti Computing

4. Simulaqron: Simulaqron (Quantum internet)

5. Xanadu’s Pennylane, Strawberry Fields, Blackbird: Xanadu

Written by Rhea Parekh, Daattavya Aggarwal, Natansh Mathur and Sudhang Varshney.