Quantum Computing: Fundamental Concepts and Practical Implementations

This course provides a broad and accessible introduction to quantum computing, with practical demonstrations using IBM’s Qiskit ecosystem. It is designed for participants from diverse backgrounds such as students, developers, and professionals with basic knowledge of mathematics (vectors, matrices) and Python programming. We will learn how to implement elementary quantum circuits and run them on real quantum computers made available to the general public by IBM.
This course is part of the preparatory program for the Quantum Computing Academy and can also be taken independently by beginners interested in discovering quantum computing.

This course will cover the following topics:

• Classical and quantum computing: advantages and motivations;
• Essential notions of quantum mechanics applied to computing: qubit, quantum logic gates, bra–ket notation, superposition states, measurement, . . .
• Multi-qubit quantum circuits: quantum entanglement, manipulation of logic gates;
• Programming quantum circuits with the Qiskit library: preparation of an entangled state and quantum teleportation;
• Overview of a more advanced quantum algorithm with Qiskit: Grover’s algorithm;
• Execution of circuits on a real quantum computer;

In addition to these topics, other subjects may be covered depending on participants’ interests:

• Overview of hardware platforms for quantum computing: existing technologies and current limitations;
• CHSH and Bell inequalities: interpretation of quantum superposition;
• Complex numbers for quantum computing;
• Evolution of quantum states and the impossibility of copying a quantum state;

• Quantum key distribution.

By the end of this training, participants will have:

• A basic understanding of quantum computing;
• The ability to implement simple quantum circuits with Qiskit;
• The ability to run algorithms on IBM’s publicly accessible quantum computers.

This training alternates between lectures and practical demonstrations.