Office hours for week of May 13: Monday 11:15-12:15, 3-4. Tuesday: 1-2:30, Wed: 9-11:30.

Quantum computers harness the strange and counterintuitive properties of quantum mechanics to solve computational problems. In some cases, quantum computers will be able to solve problems much more quickly than classical computers. This potential has prompted a surge in interest in building quantum computers and in understanding their power. In this class, we will learn how quantum mechanics can give advantages in computer science applications from communication, cryptography, and algorithms.

Learning Goals are broad and somewhat immeasurable goals that I want you to achieve by the end of the course. Learning Objectives are concrete, measurable learning outcomes that will help you to reach the Learning Goals.

Learning Goals

• Apply linear algebra and other mathematical tools to describe, analyze, and solve problems related to quantum information and computation protocols.
• Build intuition about quantum mechanics and its properties that lead to advantages over standard computation.
• Appreciate the limits of quantum computation.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, students should be able to

• Use tools of linear algebra and the standard terminology of quantum computing to effectively describe and analyze quantum protocols.
• Describe the following key properties of quantum mechanics and explain why they are useful in informational and computational tasks: entanglement, measurement, no-cloning, superposition, negative and complex phases.
• Describe and analyze the following protocols: superdense coding, teleportation, CHSH game, Elitzur-Vaidman bomb tester, quantum cryptography, Shor's factoring algorithm, Grover's search algorithm, basic quantum error correction.
• Apply the adversary method to put limits on quantum computations.

Time and location: 1:45-2:35 Monday, Wednesday, Friday in MBH 403,

What do I call you? Professor Kimmel or Professor. I use the pronouns she/her/hers.

Professor Office Hours: in MBH 635. Please come to office hours with specific questions, comments, or concerns.

• Drop-in: Mon: 11:15-12:15 and 3-4; Wed: 3-4;
• By appointment: Thursday 9am-noon + other times. Click Here to book at least 12 hours in advance. (You may book 2 sessions in a row if you think you need more time.) You can also schedule an appointment by e-mail if these times do not work for you.

Canvas Site: Here

Super Useful Department Wiki: Here!

Communication: I will use e-mail to communicate with you about urgent matters. Please check your Middlebury e-mail at least once a day. I will post less urgent messages (e.g. a change in office hours) to the announcements section of this site. Please check the Calendar section of this site regularly for an up-to-date record of assignments, due dates, and lecture notes.

E-mail Policy
I will not answer coding questions or problem set questions via e-mail, except for logistical questions.

Texts:
There are no required texts. I will post lecture notes after each lecture. There are several e-textbooks available under course reserves that you may find helpful.

Technology in the Classroom
You may NOT use any type of cell phone, tablet, or computer during class, unless you have a compelling reason. Please come talk to me if you have a compelling reason for wanting to use technology. Taking notes on a laptop has been shown to be less effective and lower quiz scores not only for the student using the device, but for nearby students as well (because it distracts those around you).

Class Participation

• Group Work: You will be assigned to a small group for in-class discussions and problem solving. Diverse groups tend to perform better than homogeneous groups, so think about what diverse perspectives or background you might bring to your group.
• Attendance: Because of the emphasis on group work, it is important that you attend class regularly. I will use Plickers to keep attendance and for feedback, but your Plicker responses will not affect your grade. If you need to print out your Plicker QR code, go to plickers.com.
• Participation Grade: according to this rubric

Problem Sets
The primary purpose of problem sets is to help you to learn the course material. The problem sets provide you with opportunities to practice, and importantly, to figure out where you need additional practice.

You will be graded on effort and thoughtfulness, not correctness. Each problem set will have four graded parts, and all parts are submitted through Canvas.

• Pre-Quiz: It is extremely difficult to complete one of my problem sets in one sitting. Your brain needs time to understand, brainstorm, and synthesize the ideas needed to solve these problems, and this process generally takes a couple of days (and several good night's sleep) and occurs even if you are not actively thinking about the problem set. The purpose of the Pre-Quiz is to force you to at least look at the problem set soon after it is assigned, in order to jump-start this process.
• Problem Set: Should be submitted as a PDF to Canvas. Due most Wednesdays before class. You will be graded on effort, using these criteria.
• Self-Grade: I will give you my solutions to the problem set, and you will go through your solutions and use this rubric to give yourself a grade. My expectations for your self-grade are specified here. Your self-grade will be done through the Canvas feedback system (to be explained in class), and will be due most Fridays before class.
• Reflection: Studies have shown that thinking critically about your learning process improves your learning. After each problem set, you will write a reflection, using this worksheet as a starting point. I will grade reflections using this rubric. Due most Fridays before class, submitted as a PDF to Canvas.

Sometimes it might be difficult for you to determine if your solution is incorrect, or correct but different from mine. In these cases, please post your solution to the Discussion section of the Canvas site under the relevant problem set posting. You should attach a picture or include a description of your solution, along with the problem number. Then I or other students will provide feedback. If you provide helpful feedback on another person's question, you will receive a small bonus in your problem set grade.

If you are the first to find a typo in the problem set or solutions, I will give you a small bonus.

Quizzes
There will be a weekly quiz to assess your understanding of concepts from the previous week's problem set. Additionally, many studies have shown that giving tests improves learning through the "testing effect." Quizzes will usually consist of two problems, one from topics on the problem set due earlier that week, and one from earlier topics. Some quizzes will be held in class, and some will be taken at home through Canvas. All quizzes are completely closed book and must be completed individually.

Tests
The midterm will be self-scheduled. You should plan to set aside 3 hours during the exam window to take the test. The date of the midterm is:

• March 19-21

The final will be scheduled: Monday, May 21, 2-5pm

Programming Assignments
Quantum computing has only recently left the theoretical realm. As more sophisticated quantum devices have been developed, several programming languages have been created to allow easier interaction with the devices. There will be one programming assignment in this course. However the focus of this class is on the understanding of quantum computing concepts, so if you do not do the programming assignment, it will not lower your final grade. The exception is that to earn an A in the course, you must complete the programming assignment with a satisfactory grade. However, if you complete the assignment satisfactorily, you will get a small boost to your final grade. You may turn in the programming assignment as many times as you would like to Canvas before the last day of class, as long as there are significant changes between the submissions.

Get Out of Jail Free Passes

• You can submit two problem sets within 24 hours late without effect on your grade.
• You can skip one problem set (and associated pre-quiz, self-grade, and reflection) without effect on your grade, but you are still responsible for the material.
• You can miss one class without an excused absence without effect on your grade, but you are still responsible for the material.
• I will drop your two lowest quiz scores.

Evaluation and Grading
Your final grade will be determined as follows:

• Final: 30%
• Midterm: 20%
• Quizzes: 25%
• Problem Sets: 15%
• Class Participation and Attendance: 10%

Excused Absences and Extensions:
If you will miss class because of a religious observance, please notify me within the first two weeks of class. Please look at exam dates and let me know as soon as possible if you have conflicts. Other absences will be dealt with on a case by case basis, but please let me know as early as possible if you will not be able to attend a class. If you miss class, you are still responsible for the missed material. You should carefully read the lecture notes for the class you miss. I will be happy to answer questions related to the lecture, but I will not repeat the lecture for students who missed the original. Quizzes will be rescheduled as necessary for students with an excused absence.

In extenuating circumstances (e.g. personal crisis, serious illness, family problems) extensions for assignments or quizzes may be granted. Please contact me in this case.

Honor Code:
You are expected to maintain the highest level of academic integrity in this course. All work you turn in should be your own. However, collaboration on problem sets and programming assignments is not only allowed, but encouraged. Additionally, you can use course textbooks and online resources to look up approaches and similar examples. To ensure that you are not in violation of the honor code if you collaborate with others, I suggest after discussing code or problem sets, you write up your own solutions or code later on your own.

If you work with another student on a problem set or programming assignment, please acknowledge that person (e.g. "I worked with xxx.") For programming assignments put this acknowledgment in a comment header.

The exams and quizzes must be entirely your own work. You may not share any information about tests or quizzes with any other students, either within or outside of the course.

Academic Accommodation:
Students with documented disabilities who may need accommodations in this class (e.g., extra time on exams) are encouraged to contact me as early as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Assistance is available to eligible students through the Student Accessibility Office. Please contact one of the ADA Coordinators. Jodi Litchfield cab be reached at litchfie@middlebury.edu or 802-443-5936 and Courtney Cioffredi can be reached at cioffredi@middlebury.edu or 802-443-2169 for more information. All discussions will remain confidential.

Disclaimer:
This syllabus is a guideline, and parts may be subject to changes if current policies not conducive to your learning.

Texts

The following are additional resources that you might find useful. The ebooks contain additional practice problems

• Ereserves (Password on Canvas Site.) Contains references on probability and complex numbers. Password for access is on the Canvas site.
• E-books on reserve. Several books on quantum computing with additional exercises. To download e-books for offline use see this tutorial

Rubrics and Resources

• Reflection Worksheet (pdf) or (tex)
• Problem Set Self-Grading Rubric (pdf)
• Problem Set, Self-Grade, and Reflection Criteria (pdf)
• Group Work Grading Rubric (pdf)
• Latex Resources here
• Proof writing review here

Problem Set Submission Guidelines

When you submit your problem set to Canvas, it should be in pdf form, but you can hand write it (and then scan it, or use an app on your phone to take a pic and convert) or type it.

However, when you submit, please check that is it well-sized and readable. It is much better if the whole document is one file instead of multiple files for each page. You will be using the pdf on Canvas later for the self-grading portion, so your life will be easier if you make sure it is readable. You can resubmit the pset multiple times (before the deadline) if it doesn't look good, so try to submit something early just to test.

To check if it is readable, there is a button on the Problem Set 1 page that says "Submission Details." Click this, and then go to "View Feedback." On the View Feedback window, there is a button to blow the viewer up to the full screen (you might need to scroll up on the window to see it). If this view is easy to read, then you are all set.