Quantum Computing Ultralearning challenge

NOTE: I'm currently pausing the challenge to pursue more important goals. Will get back to this by the end of 2022.

image source

The first time I heard about Quantum Computing is when browsing Codeforces - a platform for competitive programming, looking for some contests, then saw the Microsoft Q# Coding Contest – Summer 2020.
It looked interesting so I signed up, but then only had time to indulge half of the very basic knowledge of this field, which was not enough to compete in the race.
Nevertheless, the topic has still attracted me to this day, keep me coming back to it again and again, cannot stop thinking about its weirdness no matter how busy I am.

That's why I have decided to dedicate a part of my next half year to study this topic, by following an Ultralearning project, which was experimented successfully by Scott H. Young.

Will this benefit my career?
Maybe, maybe not, since my current job doesn't relate to quantum computing. But I believe that, more than any prosperity, the pleasure of finding things out and learning just for the sake of learning, directed by curiosity would be the best drink to quench my thirst for knowledge.

Materials:

• The curriculum will be based on the book Quantum Computation and Quantum Information (10th Anniversary Edition), written by Michael A. Nielsen and Isaac L. Chuang (Mike and Ike). There are many good books on the topic, but this one is kind of a "bible" for the field and is also one of the most cited books in Physics.
  
• Quantum computing for the determined - Youtube videos by Michael Nielsen.
• Quantum computing for the very curious by Andy Matuschak and Michael Nielsen.
• microsoft/QuantumKatas Github repository.
• Articles from https://quantum.country and Wikipedia.
• For programming practice, I will use Cirq and TensorFlow Quantum (TFQ) - open-source library and framework from Google.

Some notes:

• Since I'm working a full-time job, 1 hours/weekday is the maximum budget for this project. I can spend ~ 4 hours/weekend, though. So in total, my limitation is around 9 hours/week.
• My background is in computer science, therefore no need for a review on this. If you come from other disciplines, taking some introductory courses algorithmic thinking & programming might be helpful. For example, https://www.coursera.org/learn/algorithmic-thinking-1 and https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-to-computer-science-and-programming-7.
• ✅ will be placed before each week title, when it's finished.
• There will be weekly summary blog posts.

Completed items:

• Week 1: maths and articles.
• Week 2 (postponed 1 week): overview.
• Week 3: quantum mechanics is more challenging than expected. I need more time on this topic. Timeline updated.
• Week 4: quantum mechanics.
• Week 5 (postponed 1 week): qubit. Also moved the quantum gate topic to next week. Timeline updated.
• Week 6: quantum gates.
• Week 7 (tough time, postponed 1 month): quantum circuits & simulation.
• Week 8: universal quantum computation.

Timeline #

Since you've made it this far, sharing this article on your favorite social media network would be highly appreciated!
For feedback, ping me on Twitter.

All the information on this blog are my own opinions and do NOT represent the views or opinions of any of my past or current employers.

Published 19 Dec 2020