QIS Courses

ECE 305 - Introduction to Quantum Systems I 
Quantum information science (QIS) is a rapidly developing field that aims to revolutionize computation and communication technology. This course will provide an introduction to physical quantum systems with an emphasis on QIS applications. The primary objective is to provide the conceptual and quantitative foundations for higher-level courses in quantum information science and nanoelectronics. 

ECE 405 - Introduction to Quantum Systems II 
Manipulation of Elementary Quantum Systems. A survey of the modern quantum technology landscape with an introduction to platforms including single photons, atoms, ions and superconducting qubits. Two-level systems and their coupling to electromagnetic fields. Basic protocols for quantum networks and quantum information processing. Elementary discussions of qubit interactions and noise. Prerequisites: PHYS 214, ECE 329, and concurrent registration in ECE 350 is strongly recommended. 

ECE 406 - Quantum Information Processing Theory 
This course introduces the basic concepts and principles underlying quantum computing and quantum communication theory. Roughly 33% of the course will be devoted to teaching the necessary mathematical tools and principles of quantum information processing, 33% to quantum computation and communication, and 33% to entanglement theory. The specific topics covered in this course are chosen to reflect areas of high interest within the research community over the past two decades. The student will be expected to perform detailed mathematical calculations and construct proofs. By the end of the semester, the student should be equipped with enough background and technical skill set to begin participating in quantum information research. 

ECE 407 - Quantum Optics and Devices
This course is planned to prepare ECE students with the essential physics and device knowledge for the advent of quantum technology era. The first half of the course will cover concepts and formalisms of quantum optics. Though developed initially in the context of quantum optics, these techniques are generally applicable to other quantum systems and are now essential for design and analysis of quantum devices. The second half of the course will thus be focused on the application of the theoretical tools to study a variety of quantum device platforms. This will be accompanied by review of classic literatures in the respective fields. Covered topics includes: Electromagnetic fields quantization; non-classical light; quantum correlations, Quantum nonlinear optics, Open quantum systems; input-output formalism; Master equation, Atom-light interaction; cavity-QED, Integrated quantum photonics, Superconducting quantum circuits, Mechanical quantum systems, Quantum measurement, Other quantum devices: quantum transducers, quantum memory, quantum repeaters. 

PHYS 398QIC - Introduction to QIS 
Introduction to quantum information and computing. Prerequisite Phys. 214 or equivalent. We will introduce quantum bits (qubits), quantum gates, and quantum algorithms; use online quantum computers to do calculations; discuss current technology.

PHYS 403 - Modern Physics Lab 
Techniques and experiments in the physics of atoms, atomic nuclei, molecules, the solid state, and other areas of modern physical research. Prerequisite: Credit or concurrent registration in PHYS 486.

PHYS 446 - Advanced Computational Physics 

This is an immersive advanced computational physics course. The goals in this class are to program from scratch, simulate, and understand the physics within a series of multi-week projects spanning areas such as quantum computing (project 1 including quantum gates, and algorithms), statistical mechanics and the renormalization group (project 2 including the Ising model, phase transitions, numerical RG), machine learning (project 3 including Hopfield networks and energy-based models), and topological insulators (project 4 including tight-binding models, graphene, Chern-Insulators).  Students will use C/C++ and python, among others, to complete their projects. The course approach (lectures, one-on-one interaction in class, etc.) is centered around giving you the information and skills you need to succeed in carrying out these projects. 

PHYS 485 -  Atomic Phys & Quantum Theory 
Basic concepts of quantum theory which underlie modern theories of the properties of materials; elements of atomic and nuclear theory; kinetic theory and statistical mechanics; quantum theory and simple applications; atomic spectra and atomic structure; molecular structure and chemical binding. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours. Credit is not given for both PHYS 485 and CHEM 442. Prerequisite: MATH 285 or MATH 286 and PHYS 214.

CS 598CTO - Quantum Cryptography
This course will cover a selection of cutting-edge topics in quantum cryptography. We will begin with a brief introduction to quantum computing, and then discuss the influence of quantum computing on cryptography. We will cover:
1. Quantum attacks on classical cryptography and how to achieve resilience to them
2. Protocols that use quantum resources, such as quantum key distribution, copy-protection and quantum money
3. Interactive proofs with quantum devices
No prior background in quantum information/quantum physics/mechanics or in cryptography will be assumed, although students are expected to be well-versed with basic concepts in the theory of computation (P vs NP, Turing Machines, reductions), and are expected to pick up concepts in quantum cryptography along the way.

We will understand how an adversary that breaks advanced protocols can be transformed into an adversary that contradicts basic mathematical assumptions. Our focus will be on understanding key ideas in cryptography research published over the last few years, and identifying new directions and problems for the future.

MATH 595 - Quantum Channels II: Data-processing, recovery channels, and quantum Markov chains 
This course gives an introduction to the theory of quantum Markov chains in the finite-dimensional setting of quantum information theory. We first discuss the quantum relative entropy and its fundamental property, the data-processing inequality, and give a proof of this inequality that naturally leads to equality conditions and the concept of recovery channels. Specializing this analysis to the partial trace, we obtain the strong subadditivity property of the von Neumann entropy, as well as a natural definition of quantum Markov chains. We then review a structure theorem for quantum Markov chains, the fundamental differences to classical Markov chains, and - time permitting - venture into the active research topic of approximate quantum Markov chains.

CHEM 442 - Physical Chemistry I 
Lectures and problems focusing on microscopic properties. CHEM 442 and CHEM 444 constitute a year-long study of chemical principles. CHEM 442 focuses on quantum chemistry, atomic and molecular structure, spectroscopy and dynamics. 4 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Credit is not given for both CHEM 442 and PHYS 485. Prerequisite: CHEM 204 or CHEM 222; MATH 225, 257, or 415, and a minimal knowledge of differential equations, or equivalent; and PHYS 211, PHYS 212, and PHYS 214 or equivalent.

CHEM 540 - Quantum Mechanics 
The sequence, CHEM 540 and CHEM 542, is designed to give seniors and graduate students a unified treatment of quantum mechanics and spectroscopy on an advanced level. CHEM 540 covers the principles of formalism of quantum mechanics, as well as the solution of the Schrodinger equation for models and simple chemical systems. Prerequisite: CHEM 442 or equivalent.

CHEM 542 - Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy
Continuation of CHEM 540. Focusing on molecular spectroscopy, nonlinear spectroscopy, kinetics and application of quantum mechanics to dissipative systems. Prerequisite: CHEM 540.

CHEM 550 - Advanced Quantum Dynamics
The quantum mechanical and semi-classical description of time-dependent processes, including discussions of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation, approximations, interaction of matter with radiation, wave packets, elastic and inelastic scattering, and relaxation phenomena. Prerequisite: Concurrent registration in CHEM 540 or consent of instructor.