Image from the Noun Project
H. Alberto Gongora from the Noun Project
Student Guide

Putting the rhythm in quantum algorithms

Learn quantum programming basics with the 2-Qubit dance

If we could see inside a quantum computer, how would it work to execute a quantum algorithm?

  • The kit will contain:
  • PowerPoint presentation (which covers the notions and structures the proceeding of the workshop)
  • Link to the YouTube videos of the final activity (the 2-Qubit Dance tutorial and game)
  • The teacher’s and students’ guides
  • To go through the workshop in your class, you will also need:
  • An internet connection
  • A way to display the PowerPoint presentation and the YouTube videos (with sound)
  • Cardboard and markers
  • Tape or mounting putty (reusable adhesive)
Intro:

Quantum science is a branch of physics that is 100 years old. Breakthroughs from quantum science are behind many of our everyday technologies and can be applied to many fields. But there’s also an exciting future application: quantum computers. Today, you’re going to learn how those are different from classical computers and how to program them. Embark on this journey through the fascinating quantum world!

Objectives

Students will be able to:

  • Understand how quantum computers differ from classical computers
  • Experiment with the concept of a binary code and how we compute with bits of information
  • Understand key quantum principles (superposition of states and entanglement) and how they are used in quantum computing
  • Visualize the representation of a qubit with the Bloch sphere

You can create your own objectives too. After reading the introduction, what is your essential question or objective for this activity?


Before the experiment

Ask yourself what you already know about quantum physics and about quantum computers. Have you heard of them before? Do you know any possible keywords or ideas related to the subject?

Setting up

This workshop includes 3 activities. Pay attention to the instructions given by your teacher for each of the activities. Make sure you have your pencil or pen ready to take notes during the activities.

During the experiment
  • Activity 1: Experimenting with binary code

    Answer this question to the best of your knowledge: How do classical computers work?

  • Note the first convention presented by your teacher (ex: ← = yes, → = no). Answer teacher questions by pointing with your hand according to the directions of the convention presented.

  • Note the subsequent convention(s). (ex: ↑ = yes, ↓ = no). Answer teacher questions by pointing with your hand according to the directions of the convention presented.

  • Activity 2: Discovering how code can carry information

    Answer this question to the best of your knowledge: How can 0s and 1s encode complex information like words?

  • On your sheet, note the letter told by the teacher and its corresponding series of 0s and 1s.

  • Do the same with the 2 letters told by the teacher (ex: AB = 0100000101000010).

  • Note the series of 0s and 1s shown by the teacher to transmit you a coded word.

  • Answer those 2 questions: How many letters are in the word? What is the word?

  • Activity 3: Dancing quantum logic gates

    Answer this question to the best of your knowledge: What is quantum physics?

  • Answer this question to the best of your knowledge by circling A or B: Compared to classical computers, do you think quantum computers…:

    • Work the same, but faster?
    • Work differently?

    That’s it, just have fun with the dance!

Conclusion

Quantum computers are entirely different from classical computers in the materials they are made of, in the way they work and in the way we program them. Quantum algorithms are made by using logic gates to prepare quantum states on qubits. If we could look inside a quantum computer while it runs an algorithm, it would look like it is dancing just like we did!

Was your personal essential question answered? If so, what is the answer? If not, what additional information would you need to answer it?

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