A gentle but consistent introduction to quantum computing

Description

The race for Quantum Supremacy is on. The promises are spectacular, and the challenges enormous. At first sight, it seems the entry barrier is very high. The perception is that one requires a complex mix of mathematics, fundamental physics, hardware, and computer science knowledge to tap into the world of Quantum Computing (QC). Also, the pace of development in the QC hardware space shows there is still a long way to go until quantum computers become ubiquitous.

Still, the excitement and interest around QC are growing tremendously, and there are good reasons for this. Specialized cases of QC, like quantum annealing, are not a thing of the future anymore. You can’t use them to write universal quantum programs, but they can help solve problems in challenging areas like optimization. The power of cloud computing already permits powerful simulations of universal QC. And then, there is the rapidly growing field of Quantum Inspired Solutions that borrow ideas from QC to solve practical problems with classical computing. It’s no wonder there are so many people today who are very interested in what QC is and what it can offer in both the short and long terms.

In this 5-part workshop, we will introduce you to the fabulous world of Quantum Computing. We’ll touch on the essential topics, from the theory and the algorithms to the actual building of the physical systems. Examples based on Q#, Microsoft’s QC programming language, will help you understand the patterns of interaction with this unique and complex world. We will dive into the specifics of practical things already happening, like Quantum Inspired Solutions and using QC to help solve complex optimization problems.

Quantum Computing is still in its infancy. It is complex, difficult to understand, and in many aspects, seriously counter-intuitive. At the same time, it is one of humankind’s best bets for solving some of the most complex problems. Our aim for this workshop is to help you understand the current state of this spectacular field. And no, quantum physics or maths PhDs are not required to attend the session.