Book Image

Quantum Computing Algorithms

By : Barry Burd
5 (1)
Book Image

Quantum Computing Algorithms

5 (1)
By: Barry Burd

Overview of this book

Navigate the quantum computing spectrum with this book, bridging the gap between abstract, math-heavy texts and math-avoidant beginner guides. Unlike intermediate-level books that often leave gaps in comprehension, this all-encompassing guide offers the missing links you need to truly understand the subject. Balancing intuition and rigor, this book empowers you to become a master of quantum algorithms. No longer confined to canned examples, you'll acquire the skills necessary to craft your own quantum code. Quantum Computing Algorithms is organized into four sections to build your expertise progressively. The first section lays the foundation with essential quantum concepts, ensuring that you grasp qubits, their representation, and their transformations. Moving to quantum algorithms, the second section focuses on pivotal algorithms — specifically, quantum key distribution and teleportation. The third section demonstrates the transformative power of algorithms that outpace classical computation and makes way for the fourth section, helping you to expand your horizons by exploring alternative quantum computing models. By the end of this book, quantum algorithms will cease to be mystifying as you make this knowledge your asset and enter a new era of computation, where you have the power to shape the code of reality.
Table of Contents (19 chapters)
Free Chapter
2
Part 1 Nuts and Bolts
7
Part 2 Making Qubits Work for You
10
Part 3 Quantum Computing Algorithms
14
Part 4 Beyond Gate-Based Quantum Computing

Grover’s Algorithm

One of my earliest glimpses of quantum computing was in an article about Grover’s algorithm. I read the article several times. I understood the mechanics of Grover’s algorithm but not the big picture behind it. When you run the algorithm, you start with some qubits, and you change their states. After some amount of fiddling, you measure the system, and (with high probability) the correct answer appears before your eyes! Is this a real algorithm, or is it merely sleight of hand?

Several weeks later, during an hour-long train ride, I scribbled some calculations and convinced myself that the algorithm was destined to work.

The algorithm was originally published in an article entitled A fast quantum mechanical algorithm for database search. So, many months later, when I gave a lecture about Grover’s algorithm, I told students the algorithm was useful for searching through database records. One of the students asked me how database tables...