Understanding Quantum Architecture
Principal lecturer: Dr Prakash Murali
Taken by: MPhil ACS, Part III
Code: L132
Term: Michaelmas
Hours: 16 (8hrs lectures, 8hrs seminars)
Format: In-person lectures
Class limit: max. 16 students
Prerequisites: Requires introductory linear algebra - concepts such as eigenvalues, Hermitian matrices, unitary matrices. Taking the Part II Quantum Computing course (or similar) is helpful but not required. Familiarity with computer architecture and compilers is helpful.
Moodle, timetable
Aims
This course covers the architecture of a practical-scale quantum computer. We will examine the resource requirements of practical quantum applications, understand the different layers of the quantum stack, the techniques used in these layers and examine how these layers come together to enable practical quantum advantage over classical computing.
Syllabus
The course has two parts: a series of lectures to cover important aspects of the quantum stack and a set of student presentations. The following are a list of representative topics:
- Basics of quantum computing
- The fault-tolerant quantum stack
- Compilation
- Instruction sets
- Implementations of quantum error correction
- Implementation of magic state distillation
- Resource estimation
Student presentations will be based on a reading list of
important papers in quantum architecture.
Objectives
At the end of the course, students will have a broad understanding of the quantum computing stack. They will understand how major qubit technologies work, design challenges in real quantum hardware, how quantum applications are mapped to a system and the importance of quantum error correction for scalability.
Assessment
- Seminar presentation: 20%
- Read one paper from a provided reading list
- Prepare a 20 minute presentation on it + 10 minutes of answering questions.
- The student presentation should be similar to a conference presentation - convey the problem, what are prior solutions, what did the paper do, what are the results, what are future directions
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For the 20% of the score, the score will be split as 15% and 5%. 15% based on how well the student understands and explains the paper to the rest of the audience. 5% based on the Q&A session.
- Course project: 80% (split across a proposal, mid-term
report, final report)
- A. Research proposal - at least 500 words (10% of total)
- B. Mid-term report - at least 1000 words (including aspects like the research problem, literature review, what questions will be evaluated, any early ideas or methods (20% of total)
- C. Final report - up to 4 pages double column in a conference paper style with 3000-4000 words. In addition to the mid term report, should include aspects like results and future directions. (50% of the total)
- D. Report on contributions (in case of group work by 2 students) - 1 paragraph on individual contribution of the student. 1 paragraph on teammate's contribution.
- Students may work alone in the project, in which case they need only components A-C. Students may work in pairs of two, but they should in addition individually submit D. The instructor may conduct a short viva in case contributions from both team members are not clear or imbalanced.
Recommended reading
Nielsen M.A., Chuang I.L. (2010). Quantum Computation and Quantum Information. Cambridge University Press.
Mermin N.D. (2007). Quantum Computer Science: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press.
Assessing requirements to scale to practical quantum advantage (2022) Beverland et al.