Introduction to Quantum Computing

This course provides a foundation in quantum computing, covering the essential elements of quantum computation theory without requiring prior knowledge of quantum physics. The introduction to quantum theory from a computer science perspective begins with the key concepts necessary for constructing quantum algorithms.

This is followed by demonstrations of several elementary examples of quantum speedup and fundamental applications, including Deutsch’s algorithm, Grover’s search algorithm, and Shor’s factorisation algorithm and its cryptographic implications. The course also covers hybrid approaches based on variational quantum circuits, such as VQE and QAOA, as well as quantum machine learning methods. The final part of the course is devoted to quantum error theory.

The theoretical lectures are complemented by practical sessions in which quantum algorithms are analysed in detail using methods of functional analysis and demonstrated on quantum computer simulators or real quantum hardware. Qiskit and the online Quirk tool are used to design and implement quantum algorithms.

The course is intended for first- and second-year Master’s students at VŠB–TUO. The prerequisite is a working knowledge of linear algebra over the complex numbers.