MPhys Physics with Theoretical Physics / Course details

Year of entry: 2027

View tabs
View full page

Course unit details:
Quantum Information and Computation

Course unit fact file
Unit code	PHYS30401
Credit rating	10
Unit level	Level 3
Teaching period(s)	Semester 1
Offered by	Department of Physics & Astronomy
Available as a free choice unit?	No

Overview

Quantum Information Science is an interdisciplinary field that combines principles from quantum mechanics and information theory to explore new computational paradigms and technologies. This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of quantum information, including qubits, entanglement, and quantum circuits, and examines how these concepts differ from classical information systems. Students will explore the theoretical foundations of quantum computation and cryptography, and gain insight into the practical challenges and potential applications of quantum technologies. Topics include quantum algorithms, quantum cryptography, and the applications of quantum systems for communication. The course aims to develop a critical understanding of the advantages and limitations of quantum systems, preparing students for advanced study in quantum computing and related fields.

Part 1: Fundamentals of Quantum Information

1. Review of Quantum Mechanics Foundations (2 lectures). Key postulates of quantum mechanics: states, dynamics, measurements. Linear algebra for quantum mechanics: state vectors, operators, and eigenvalues. Essential basic probability theory.

2. Qubits and Basic Quantum Information Concepts (3 lectures). Qubits: Bloch sphere representation and single-qubit states. Single-qubit operations: Pauli matrices, unitary transformations. Introduction to quantum superposition and coherence. Mixed states / density matrices. Composite systems, reduced states, and introduction to entanglement.

3. Foundations of Information Theory: Classical & Quantum (2 lectures). Basic classical (Shannon) information theory: entropy, mutual information, noiseless coding theorem. Basic quantum information theory: no cloning theorem, Holevo capacity, Schumacher compression.

4. Essential Quantum Information Protocols (2 lectures). State tomography and discrimination tasks, quantum teleportation, superdense coding.

Part 2: Quantum Information in Practice

5. Quantum Correlations (2 lectures). Entanglement, Schmidt decomposition, purification. Entanglement quantification: pure and mixed states. EPR argument: local hidden variables, Bell’s theorem, quantum non-locality.

6. Quantum Cryptography & Metrology (2 lectures). Principles of quantum cryptography: BB84 protocol, quantum key distribution. Phase estimation.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title	Unit code	Requirement type	Description
Quantum Mechanics 2	PHYS20302	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory

Aims

To provide a foundational understanding of quantum mechanics in the context of quantum information science.

To explore key concepts such as qubits, entanglement, and quantum circuits.

To introduce students to practical applications, including quantum cryptography, algorithms, and communication tasks.

To develop the ability to critically analyse the advantages and limitations of quantum systems compared to classical ones for information processing tasks.

Learning outcomes

On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

ILO 1

Explain the fundamental principles of quantum information theory and their relation to classical information theory.

ILO 2

Describe and apply concepts such as qubits, entanglement, and quantum circuits in the characterisation of quantum systems and their advantages for information processing tasks.

ILO 3

Evaluate the principles and practical applications of quantum cryptography and communication.

ILO 4

Critically assess the challenges of scaling quantum systems, including decoherence and error correction.

Teaching and learning methods

Two one hour, live in-person lectures per week where the core material with examples will be delivered. The recordings of these lectures will be on the course online page. The lectures are accompanied by brief summary notes and for some of the material explanatory videos that the students are expected to assimilate before the lecture. This is augmented by a weekly online quiz (where the students get automatic feedback), and fortnightly problems. A Piazza discussion forum is also provided where students can ask questions with answers provided by other students and the unit lead.

Assessment methods

Method	Weight
Written exam	100%

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Assessment written exam	2
Lectures	22

Independent study hours
Independent study	76

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Philip Taranto	Unit coordinator

Return to course details