CMSC/PHYS 457 Introduction to Quantum Computing, Spring 2026 : Syllabus

Tentative Syllabus (subject to frequent updates)

  • Week 1 (Jan 26 - Jan 30): (Classes Cancelled) From classical to quantum information. Quantum mechanics.

    • Lecture 1 (01/26/26): Introduction of the course ([./note/intro.pdf note]). Linear algebra backgrounds (our [./note/cheatsheet.pdf cheatsheet]). Reading: KLM Chap 1 and Chap 2.1-2.6.

    • Lecture 2 (01/28/26): Mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics. Reading: KLM Chap 3.1-3.3.

    • Logistics: Please find your group member as soon as possible.

  • Week 2 (Feb 2- Feb 6): Mathematical formulation of Quantum mechanics.

    • Lecture 3 (02/02/26): Introduction of the course (note). Linear algebra backgrounds (our cheatsheet). Reading: KLM Chap 1 and Chap 2.1-2.6.

    • Lecture 4 (02/04/26): Mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics. Reading: KLM Chap 3.1-3.4. No-cloning theorem

    • Logistics: Assignment 0 due on 02/06/26.

  • Week 3 (Feb 9 - Feb 13): Quantum information and protocols.

    • Lecture 5 (02/09/26): Mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics. Reading: KLM Chap 3.1-3.4. No-cloning theorem

    • Lecture 6 (02/11/26): Mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics. Reading: KLM Chap 3.1-3.4.

    • Logistics: Assignment 1 due on 02/13/26.

  • Week 4 (Feb 16 - Feb 20): Quantum information and protocols.

    • Lecture 7 (02/16/26): quantum Zeno Effect and Elitzur-Vaidman Bomb. Reading: [https://www.scottaaronson.com/qclec/4.pdf Aaronson's Lecture 4]
      Teleportation and super-dense coding. Reading: KLM Chap 5.1-5.2.

    • Lecture 8 (02/18/26): basic quantum circuits/gates. universal gate sets. Reading: KLM Chap 4.

    • Logistics: Project proposal due on 02/20/26.

  • Week 5 (Feb 23 - Feb 27): Quantum gates and algorithms

    • Lecture 9 (02/23/26): Quantum query model and Deutsch-Josza algorithm. Reading: Gharibian-Lec-06

    • Lecture 10 (02/25/26): Simon's algorithm. Reading: Watrous-06-Lec 6

    • Logistics: Assignment 2 due on 02/27/26. Project finalized by 02/27/26.

  • Week 6 (Mar 2 - Mar 6): Quantum algorithms

  • Week 7 (Mar 9 - Mar 13): Coding and Exam I

    • Lecture 13 (03/09/26): Coding I.

    • Lecture 14 (03/11/26): Exam I.

    • Logistics:

  • Week 8 (Mar 16 - Mar 20): Spring Break

    • Logistics: Enjoy the Break!

  • Week 9 (Mar 23 - Mar 27): Shor's algorithms

    • Lecture 15 (03/23/26): quantum Fourier transform and quantum phase estimation. Reading: Watrous-06-Lec 8 Watrous-06-Lec 9

    • Lecture 16 (03/25/26): quantum algorithm for order finding. Reading: Watrous-06-Lec 10

    • Logistics: Assignment 3 due on 03/27/26.

  • Week 10 (Mar 30 - Apr 3): Shor's algorithm (continued) and Quantum Error Correction

    • Lecture 17 (03/30/26): Shor's algorithm. Reading: Watrous-06-Lec 11

    • Lecture 18 (04/01/26): Fundamentals of Quantum Error Correction. Reading: KLM 10.1 - 10.4, Watrous-06-16.pdf

    • Logistics: Project mid-term report due by 04/03/26.

  • Week 11 (Apr 6 - Apr 10): Quantum Error Correction

    • Lecture 19 (04/06/26): Fundamentals of Quantum Error Correction. Reading: KLM 10.1 - 10.4, Watrous-06-16.pdf

    • Lecture 20 (04/08/26): Advanced QEC topics.

    • Logistics: Assignment 4 due on 04/10/26.

  • Week 12 (Apr 13 - Apr 17): Quantum Error Correction

    • Lecture 21 (04/13/26): Methods to Mitigate Quantum Errors.

    • Lecture 22 (04/15/26): How to build a QEC system?

    • Logistics: Prepare for Exam II.

  • Week 13 (Apr 20 - Apr 24): Exam II

    • Lecture 23 (04/20/26): Coding II.

    • Lecture 24 (04/22/26): Exam II

    • Logistics: Project slides due on 04/24/26.

  • Week 14 (Apr 27 - May 1): Project Presentation and Peer Review

    • Lecture 25 (04/27/26): Course Project Presentation

    • Lecture 26 (04/29/26): Course Project Presentation

  • Week 15 (May 4 - May 8): Project Presentation and Peer Review

    • Lecture 27 (05/04/26): Course Project Presentation

    • Lecture 28 (05/06/26): Course Project Presentation

    • Logistics: Coding assignment due on 05/08/26.

  • Exam Week: course project report due on 05/15/26 !