UMBC graduate students in CMSC-641 Algorithms actively engage in learning quantum algorithms in the two-week unit.
A set of six videos now available on YouTube are the cornerstone of a two-week unit that introduces quantum algorithms in UMBC's core graduate course CMSC-641 Design and Analysis of Algorithms. The project was developed by Professor Alan T. Sherman and his colleagues, including Professors Sam Lomonaco (computer science) and Linda Oliva (education), with support from the Hrabowski innovation Fund and College of Engineering and Information Technology. Additional members of the team include graduate students Marc Laczin and Siddharth Chandrasekaran, and Dr. Omar Shehab (IBM), a former Ph.D. student of Dr. Lomonaco.
Using the flipped classroom, students watch the videos before coming to class prepared to engage actively programming the QUIRK quantum circuit simulator and the IBM Q quantum computer using the Qiskit software development kit. The unit was piloted at UMBC in spring 2020, spring 2021, and fall 2021. While there are full courses in quantum computation, this effort developed a two-week unit targeted at computer science graduate students covering three quantum algorithms: Deutsch-Jozsa, Simon, and Shor.
Quantum algorithms running on quantum computers offer the potential to solve complex problems with dramatically reduced execution time and energy consumption. For example, Shor's quantum algorithm for factoring integers runs in polynomial time, faster than any known algorithm for classical computers and offers future potential to break the widely-used RSA cryptosystem. Whereas classical computers use discrete 1s and 0s to perform calculations, quantum computers use Q-bits, which involve complex numbers and can simultaneously be 0 or 1. Based on quantum physics, quantum computers operate in a strange universe that includes the curious and potentially useful effects of superposition and entanglement. In pursuit of transformative potential advantages, government and private industry are investing significantly in quantum computer technologies. All computer science students need to know about these vital emerging technologies.
Read more about this in this UMBC news story about the project.
