Addressing workforce shortages within the Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE) community requires attracting and retaining students from diverse backgrounds early on in their undergraduate education. Here, we describe a course we developed called Hello Quantum World! that introduces a broad range of fundamental quantum information and computation concepts in a rigorous way but without requiring any knowledge of mathematics beyond high-school algebra nor any prior knowledge of quantum mechanics. Some of the topics covered include superposition, entanglement, quantum gates, teleportation, quantum algorithms, and quantum error correction. The course is designed for first-year undergraduate students, both those pursuing a degree in QISE and those who are seeking to be `quantum-aware'.
Addressing workforce shortages within the Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE) community requires attracting and retaining students from diverse backgrounds early on in their undergraduate education. Here, we describe a course we developed called Hello Quantum World! that introduces a broad range of fundamental quantum information and computation concepts in a rigorous way but without requiring any knowledge of mathematics beyond high-school algebra nor any prior knowledge of quantum mechanics. Some of the topics covered include superposition, entanglement, quantum gates, teleportation, quantum algorithms, and quantum error correction. The course is designed for first-year undergraduate students, both those pursuing a degree in QISE and those who are seeking to be `quantum-aware'.
We present a simple, accessible, yet rigorous outreach/educational program focused on quantum information science and technology for high-school and early undergraduate students. This program allows students to perform meaningful hands-on calculations with quantum circuits and algorithms, without requiring knowledge of advanced mathematics. A combination of pen-and-paper exercises and IBM Q simulations helps students understand the structure of quantum gates and circuits, as well as the principles of superposition, entanglement, and measurement in quantum mechanics.
This book introduces quantum computing and quantum communications at the undergraduate level for students in the physical sciences, engineering, and mathematics, assuming no prior knowledge of quantum mechanics. It is a self-contained guide assuming only that the reader is familiar with physics at the college level, calculus (up to and including ordinary differential equations), and some matrix algebra and complex numbers. The book brings the reader up to speed with fundamental concepts in quantum information processing and builds a working knowledge of basic quantum algorithms, quantum error correction, and quantum communication protocols. It covers various models of quantum computation and some of the most common physical realizations of qubits. There is a good number of practice problems and exercises that rely on computer programming with the Qiskit language. The book can be used to prepare students of physics, mathematics, electrical and computer engineering, computer science, optics and photonics, and mathematics for internships and research experiences in quantum information processing, both during and after their undergraduate studies. It also helps those who plan to apply to graduate school and do research in this area. Key Features: Self-contained coverage of quantum computing and quantum communications, from the motivations to the fundamentals and applications, including key concepts and contemporary topics. Contains practice problems and exercises, including some that require programming in Qiskit (the python-based, high-level language for programming quantum computers, adopted by nearly all quantum hardware providers and completely open source). Very light background knowledge assumed, making this book accessible to a variety of majors in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics.
This book is intended as an introductory textbook at graduate or advanced undergraduate level. Students with diverse backgrounds, in mathematics, physics and computer science, can use it to become acquainted with the quantum theory of information. Its scope is deliberately chosen to be not too broad, while being self-consistent and usable for a semester-long course for beginners. The subject is presented using a balanced mix of intuitive arguments and rigorous formalism. The emphasis is not on the physical interpretation, but rather on the formal and mathematical features of quantum information theory, in order to be accessible from different backgrounds, the only requirement being a basic knowledge of linear algebra. In particular, a background in quantum mechanics is not needed, since quantum theory is used as a mere mathematical framework without entering into physical interpretations. The book introduces all necessary concepts from quantum theory and classical information theory, to cover the elements of quantum Shannon theory: quantum states and channels, data compression and entropy, error correcting codes and channel capacities, as well as the basics of entanglement theory and quantum cryptography. Examples are provided to help the reader in understanding the different concepts, together with exercises at the end of each chapter.
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.
This educational module provides an accessible introduction to quantum computing and is designed as the first practicum in a broader series. The presentation covers the fundamental concepts required to understand the principles and potential of quantum computation, including qubits, superposition, entanglement, decoherence, quantum gates, the Bloch sphere, and measurement. It also introduces current hardware platforms such as superconducting, trapped‑ion, and photonic qubits. The module explains the structure of quantum circuits, the role of unitary operations, and the significance of quantum parallelism and quantum advantage. It includes visual metaphors (such as Schrödinger’s cat), conceptual diagrams, and examples of real-world quantum processors. The presentation also addresses common misconceptions about quantum computers and outlines ethical, social, and educational challenges associated with the development of quantum technologies. Version 0.3 includes improved structure, updated terminology, expanded explanations of quantum gates, and a fully revised English-language adaptation suitable for international audiences. The material is intended for students, educators, and early‑stage researchers entering the field of quantum information science.