An Undergraduate Course in Quantum Computing

TL;DR

This paper describes a comprehensive undergraduate course on quantum computing, focusing on key topics like Shor's algorithm and quantum error correction, designed for students with a physics background.

Contribution

It provides a structured curriculum for teaching quantum computing at the undergraduate level, emphasizing foundational concepts and important algorithms.

Findings

Course successfully taught at UC Santa Cruz

Students gain understanding of quantum algorithms and error correction

Course materials build up to key quantum computing topics

Abstract

This is the text for a one quarter or one semester undergraduate course on quantum computing that has been given at the University of California Santa Cruz. It is intended for students in the physical sciences who have already studied linear algebra (though a review of this topic is given in the course). No prior knowledge of quantum mechanics is required. The most important topics covered are Shor's algorithm and an introduction to quantum error correction. Most of the text is a build-up to these topics.