Quantum computation notes
Quantum computation notes
Background: The computer today is made by introducing several tiny transistors embedded on silicon
chips. We call these computers ‘classical computers’ throughout the discussion. Examples of classical
computers are Desktop computer, laptop, Tab, mobile, smart watch, etc. Tiny transistors act as switches
depicting the states 0 and 1. These discrete states are called bits which are readable by the classical
computer. Physically, state ‘1’ on a bit depicts a developed/high voltage (a ‘bit’ refers here as an
abstract physical segment on which 0 or 1 is assigned) in a capacitor in combination with transistors
on a chip (Ex - RAM - random access memory). A detailed discussion on physical processes about the
memory and processing units in a classical computer was given in module 1. On the other hand, state
‘0’ represents declined/low voltage in a capacitor in combination with transistors on a chip. All types
of calculations are made easy for computers by converting information (numbers, characters etc.) into
binary digit system. All arithmetic operations are carried out by the computers only when the numbers
are represented in binary digits as 0 and 1. The simple addition operation on 3 and 4 is 7. However, this
is an impossible task for a computer unless they are fed in the form of binary digits. Therefore, our job
is to convert it into the required binary form and feed it. The binary forms of 3 and 4 are 11 and 100
respectively. The addition of them made by the computer is 111. The “111” binary digit is again
reformed to decimal as “7” which is readable by a human. Increasing a greater number of such bits on
a processor chip speeds up the computation.
As technology developed over the decades the transistors fabricated on an integrated chip
within a certain area are being doubled, and price is halved every two years. This law was the
extrapolation of the observation made on the development of chip technology predicted by Gordon
Moore (one of the co-founders of Intel Company). This is popularly known as Moor’s Law. Today,
there can be 1.2 trillion transistors printed over 21 x 21 square cm. Such a big number enhanced the
speed of a processor by a significant magnitude which in turn squeezed the individual transistor to nano
dimension. This has made a single transistor to attain such a smaller size where roughly 100 electrons
are participating in switching action. Such miniaturization of the size of an individual transistor makes
switching of state 1 to 0 and vice-versa more difficult. This is because the quantum mechanical effects
will start playing a major role by not allowing electrons and atoms to behave as they were expected to
be before the size of a transistor was made smaller. This is a result of trapping electrons and atoms
within a small, confined nano area. Because of the quantum principles like quantum superposition,
energy discreteness, quantum tunneling, quantum interference etc., it is impossible for a transistor to
create a resistive path permanently when the state of a bit must be written as 0 or conductive path for
the state 1. As a result, resistive path may conduct electricity inevitably through quantum tunneling
effect. Such restriction has significantly hindered the further development of microprocessor fabrication
technology and showed the red flag. Physicists across the globe experienced the limitation of lowering
the size of a transistor by such quantum mechanical effects. However, this limitation turned the whole
picture upside down and became a milestone for the inception of an entirely new computational method
which is called “Quantum Computation”. They decided to exploit the same limitation as foundation to
open an entirely new area of computation which is even greater than the earlier “Classical
Computation.”
Quantum computers are not the replacement of classical computers with which we are working
today, they are not even the upgradation of the super computers which are being used to solve critical
problems, but they are fundamentally different in their basic principles of operations. They work on the
principles of quantum physics such as wave-particle duality, quantum superposition, quantum
entanglement, quantum Interference, quantum tunneling, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, etc. These
principles enable the quantum computer to drastically boost computational power among all other
computers ever built.
A typical quantum computer would resemble the classical computer in its earlier development time
(middle of 19th century). The complexity and size of quantum computers’ hardware are enormous.
Quantum computer is a device which manipulates qubits for computation. Quantum computation is the
process of manipulating qubits in a quantum computer. Qubits are quantum binary digits who would
work under the principles of quantum mechanics like quantum superposition, quantum entanglement,
quantum interference, etc.
states available for computation after the addition of every single qubit. Because, after adding
a qubit, the total number of states doubles. This would follow the exponential trend as shown
in the above figure. Because, if there are N qubits, then there would be 2N states available at
the same time.
Artificial intelligence and deep learning: Exponential growth in the power of quantum
computers has the potential to bring several advantages to the fields of Artificial Intelligence
(AI) and deep learning.
6. Solving Complex Equations: Quantum computers have the potential to solve complex
differential equations and linear algebra problems, which are foundational in many AI
and deep learning applications. This capability could enhance the development of
advanced models and techniques.
Artificial intelligence and deep learning: The parallel nature of quantum computers offers
several potential advantages for solving problems in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
and deep learning. While practical implementations are still in the early stages, the parallelism
inherent in quantum computing could bring significant benefits to these domains:
4. Matrix Operations: Quantum computers are naturally suited for performing linear
algebra operations, which are fundamental to many AI and deep learning algorithms.
The ability to handle matrix operations in parallel could lead to faster and more efficient
computations.
5. Reduced Training Time: Quantum computers could accelerate the training time of AI
models by simultaneously exploring different parts of the parameter space. This could
lead to quicker convergence and faster model deployment.
6. Dimensionality Reduction: Quantum computers might enable more efficient
dimensionality reduction techniques, helping to streamline data representation and
processing in complex AI systems.
7. Exploration of Hyperparameters: Hyperparameter tuning is a critical aspect of deep
learning model optimization. Quantum computers could potentially explore different
combinations of hyperparameters in parallel, leading to faster identification of optimal
configurations.
8. Solving Complex Equations: Quantum computers excel at solving complex equations,
which are often encountered in AI and deep learning. This capability could be
particularly useful for advanced modeling and simulations.
q0 q1 q2 q3 Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4
Therefore, all the inputs can be recovered by tracking the outputs by performing reverse
operation. This is how computation is made
reversible.
Artificial intelligence and deep learning: The reversible nature of quantum computers offers
several potential advantages for applications in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep learning.
Reversibility refers to the ability of quantum operations to be easily undone, allowing for
- Dr. Raju S.P., Assistant Professor, Physics, MCE
6|Elements of Quantum Computing 22PHYS22
precise control over computation steps. While the practical implementation of these advantages
is still a subject of ongoing research, the reversible nature of quantum computing could bring
significant benefits to these fields:
3. Qubits
Spin based qubits; atomic nuclei, spin of electrons, spin trapped ions. charge based qubits
electron charge in materials like Au, GaAs, quantum dots, etc. Cavity based qubits optical
cavity qubits, Microwave cavity qubits.
In nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) based quantum computing, superposition and entanglement are
achieved using the properties of
nuclear spins within molecules
placed in a strong external magnetic
field. Superposition: Manipulation
of nuclear spins of certain atoms
within a molecule is used for
computation. Such nucleus with
spins can act like tiny magnets
aligning themselves parallel or antiparallel to the direction of the applied external magnetic field. These
two directions will be used as two distinctive states to represent |0⟩ and |1⟩. Suitable radiofrequency
(RF) pulse with the specific frequency and pulse duration, nuclear spins will be manipulated from their
initial state into a superposition state. This is simply aligning them parallel and antiparallel at the same
time. Quantum entangled state will be achieved when multiple qubits are aligned to the same magnetic
field with suitable combination of frequencies.
In ion trap quantum computing, superposition is achieved by manipulating the internal energy levels of
trapped ions using laser pulses and electromagnetic
fields. Ion trap qubits are typically based on the
electronic states of ions, such as trapped ions in
suitable elements.
reducing their thermal motion and interaction with the environment. The ground state and an excited
state of the ion can often be used as the two basis states of your qubit. The two states could be
represented as |0⟩ (ground state) and |1⟩ (excited state). If the ion is at ground state, the qubit is at |0⟩
state. Once the trapped ion is taken to higher energy, it gives electron for conduction which is considered
as |1⟩ state. The ion is at ground and excited states at the same state will make the quantum superposition
of the qubit.
Inner product (⟨ψ|ϕ⟩): The inner product of two states (bra and ket) gives a complex number
that represents the amplitude of transitioning from state |ψ⟩ to state |ϕ⟩.
Mathematically, this is the dot product of the bra vector ⟨ψ| and the ket vector |ϕ⟩. Dirac
notation makes many quantum mechanical operations more intuitive.
For example Normalization qubits: A state |ψ⟩ is normalized if ⟨ψ|ψ⟩ = 1. This ensures that
the probability of finding the system in state |ψ⟩ is 1.
Operators: Operators, such as observables and transformations, are represented by
matrices. Acting an operator on a state |ψ⟩ is written as the product of the operator and the ket
vector: A|ψ⟩.
Measurement: The probability of measuring a quantum state |ψ⟩ in a basis represented by
the ket vectors |a⟩ is given by |⟨a|ψ⟩|².
Superposition: A state can exist in a linear combination of other states. For example, |ψ⟩ =
α|0⟩ + β|1⟩ represents a qubit in a superposition of |0⟩ and |1⟩ states. In the context of quantum
computing, Dirac notation is used to represent quantum states, gates, and operations, making
it a concise and elegant way to describe and manipulate quantum information. It simplifies
calculations and allows for easy visualization of quantum concepts.
where ⟨x⟩⟨y⟩⟨z⟩ are the expected values of the Pauli operators X, Y, and Z for the qubit
state.
The states |0⟩ is represented by the point at the north pole of the Bloch sphere (r = [0,0,1]).
The state |1⟩ is represented by the point at the south pole of the Bloch sphere (r = [0,0,-1]).
Superpositions like are represented on the equator of the sphere.
Phases and amplitudes of the superposition states are represented by the azimuthal angle
() and polar angle () on the sphere, respectively.
Quantum Operations: Quantum gates and operations can be visualized as rotations on the
Bloch sphere. Applying a gate to a qubit corresponds to rotating the Bloch vector by a certain
angle around a specific axis.
In summary, the Bloch sphere provides an intuitive way to visualize and understand the
behavior of qubits in quantum computing. It helps in grasping concepts like superposition,
phases, and quantum operations, making it a valuable tool for both beginners and experienced
practitioners in the field.
Qubits can be represented using matrix methods through a formalism known as the matrix
representation of quantum states and operations. In this formalism, qubit states are represented
as column vectors, and quantum operations (gates) are represented as matrices that act on these
vectors. This approach is widely used in quantum computing and quantum mechanics to
perform calculations and analyze qubit behavior.
Qubit States: Qubit states are typically represented as two-component column vectors using
the Dirac notation. The basis states |0⟩ and |1⟩ are represented as:
A general qubit state |⟩ can be written as a linear combination of basis states:
Quantum gates are represented as unitary matrices that act on qubit states. A gate's action on a qubit
state |⟩ can be computed by matrix-vector multiplication. For example, the Pauli-X gate (bit-flip gate)
is represented by the following matrix:
To apply the Pauli-X gate to a qubit state |⟩, you multiply the X matrix with the state vector:
Similarly, other quantum gates are represented using their corresponding matrices, such as the Pauli-
Y gate, Pauli-Z gate, Hadamard gate, and more.
Quantum circuits are constructed using sequences of quantum gates. Each gate in a quantum circuit
corresponds to a matrix multiplication applied to the state vector. The entire circuit's operation is the
product of the individual gate matrices. For example, if you have a circuit with two qubits and apply
gates U and V to them, the combined operation of the circuit can be represented by the tensor product
of the gate matrices U and V.
Matrix methods provide a powerful way to analyze and compute the behavior of qubits in quantum
systems. They facilitate calculations involving quantum gates, transformations, and measurements,
making them an essential tool in quantum computing and quantum mechanics.
determined. This principle arises from the wave-like nature of particles and sets a fundamental
bound on the predictability and measurement precision of quantum systems.
Quantum tunneling: Quantum tunneling is a fundamental quantum mechanical phenomenon
in which particles have a finite probability of crossing or passing through energy barriers that
would be classically impassable due to their insufficient energy. This phenomenon occurs due
to the wave-like nature of particles at the quantum scale and is a result of the uncertainty
principle. In essence, quantum tunneling allows particles to "leak" through barriers and explore
regions that would be classically forbidden, leading to a unique and counterintuitive behavior
in the realm of quantum physics.
Quantum superposition:
Quantum superposition is a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics whereby a quantum system
can exist in a linear combination or mixture of multiple distinct states simultaneously. This state of
superposition is not the same as a classical mixture; rather, it reflects the intrinsic uncertainty and wave-
like behavior of quantum particles. As a consequence, until measured or observed, the system's
properties are described by the combined probabilities of the various states, allowing for the coexistence
of multiple possibilities and outcomes.
Quantum entanglement:
Quantum entanglement is a profound phenomenon in quantum mechanics where two or more particles
become correlated in such a way that the properties of one particle instantaneously influence the
properties of another, regardless of the distance between them. These particles are said to be "entangled"
and share an interconnected state that cannot be described independently. Entanglement defies classical
intuition and highlights the non-local, interconnected nature of quantum systems, playing a crucial role
in various quantum phenomena and technologies, including quantum computing and cryptography.
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