The Maths of Quantum Computing

Masters Project - Final year of university - 2008 to 2009

The Brief

The main focus should be

the mathematics that describes the particular quantum phenomena that are exploited by (currently mainly theoretical) quantum computers, and the mathematics informing algorithms (like Shor's) that take advantage of the special features of quantum computers

...

you will need to give the reader an insight into the background of quantum mechanics and computer algorithms. You can enliven your account with excursions into the controversial history of quantum physics, the philosophical and psychological difficulties of interpreting quantum phenomena, the story of the visionaries who first saw the potential of quantum computation and believed in the possibility of creating 'machines' to carry it out, and recent progress in developing the practical technology to build working quantum computers.

Presentation

Further, a presentation of 25 minutes was given on the topic to a lecture hall of visitors to the university.

Report

My report can be downloaded as a pdf: quantum-computing.pdf