Lecturer:
Giacomo Zuccarini (University of Udine)

Board Contact:
Paolo Giannozzi

1. Introduction to quantum physics (6h)
   Building a model of quantum measurement, observable, state, vector, superposition, interference, entanglement in the context of polarization: from the exploration of the interaction of macroscopic beams with polarizing filters and calcite crystals to a single photon model
2. Computational approach to problems: physics & logic in classical computation (1h)
   Describing the basics of computation, linking logical aspects (software) to physical ones (hardware); computing classical logic circuits; interpreting and solving the “problem of the coin” in a computational framework
3. From bit to qubit: one-qubit computation (1h)
   Describing the basics of quantum computation with one qubit; describing the vector formulation of logic gates (X, H, Z) and their geometric interpretation; algebraic and geometric computing of quantum logic circuits
4. Building a polarization model for computation (1h)
   Discussing the transition from the classical wave model of polarization to a single photon model; using it to encode a qubit; modelling X, H, Z gates in a polarization encoding; converting logic circuits into optical ones
5. Building a which-path model for computation (2h)
   Discussing the transition from the classical model of beam-splitting to a single photon model; using it to encode a qubit; modelling X, H, Z gates in a which-path encoding; converting logic circuits into optical ones
6. Building a model of multi-qubit computation in the two encodings of a photon (1h)
   Describing the basic properties of entangled qubit states; explaining separable/entangling gates; modelling two-qubit gates in the two encodings of a single photon; converting logic circuits into optical ones
7. The Deutsch algorithm (2h)
   Analyzing the internal structure of the algorithm and interpreting it as a solution to the “problem of the coin” ; identifying the different forms of quantum advantage by comparing the classical and quantum version of the algorithm; designing an optical circuit with photon polarization- and which-path-encoded qubits
8. Discussing real lab activities (1h)
   Discussing and commenting a movie on the experimental realization of some of the circuits designed during the course