Quantum Computing for High School Students via Python

Throughout history ideas taken from science fiction have evolved to become science fact and then gone on to transform our lives. This evolution takes time.

One such example begins with the Wright brothers providing "proof of principle" for powered flight in 1903 and culminates with Boeing introducing the 747 "Jumbo Jet" in 1970. Quantum Computing promises to be another life altering idea and it is in its early stages. Maybe it's time to get in on the ground floor.

Initially proposed by Richard Feynman in the early 1980s, but based on ideas from the science of quantum physics which date back to the 1920s, quantum computers have the potential to become one of the most important machines ever invented by mankind. When fully developed they will be capable of solving problems in minutes that would take even the world’s fastest supercomputer more than 10,000 years. Primitive versions of such machines have already been build by large corporations such as Google and IBM. Governments and universities around the world are also actively engaged in the field.

This course is an opportunity for your student to be exposed early on to what promises to become one of the most important technologies of the twenty-first century. It is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in this emerging technology.

In this course your student will learn how to code on a “classical” computer with the intent of simulating a “quantum computer”.  Your student will learn a popular programming language (Python) and use it to write computer code for projects that will explore the basic ideas at the core of quantum computing. 

Along the way your student will become conversant with the fundamental unit of classical information (the bit), together with its quantum counterpart (the qubit). They will learn about gates and circuits and write programs that perform both mundane tasks, such as adding together two numbers, as well as extraordinary tasks such as quantum teleportation.

By way of explanation, the term quantum teleportation refers to a laboratory procedure during which quantum information is transferred from a quantum particle or system at one location to a quantum particle or system some distance away. While not quite the same as what one might see in an episode of Star Trek, it is still an amazing feat to witness.

By the end of the course your student will (i) have a working knowledge of a Python program that simulates the workings of an actual quantum computer; and (ii) be in a position to use this program to continue learning about a technology that promises to play an important role in their future.

Week 1

Introduction to Quantum Computing 
Introduction to Python
Classical Bits and Quantum Bits
The NOT Gate
The HADAMARD Gate

Week 2

White Balls and Black Balls
A Simple Arithmetic Model of Quantum Computing
Quantum Circuits & the "Misty" Python code base
An "experiment" with HADAMARD gates

Week 3

Single qubits
The "Rudolph" Grid
The Z gate and the ROT gate
Additional multi-qubit gates

Week 4

Quantum Circuit Diagrams
Python Code
Lots of examples

Week 5

Superposition
Entanglement
Measurement
The "collapse" of Mist objects

Week 6

Doing something useful with a quantum computer
Quantum Arithmetic
The Bernstein-Vazarani Algorithm

Week 7

Quantum State Teleportation

Week 8

The Classical "CHSH" Game

Week 9

The Quantum "CHSH" Game

Week 10

Wrap-Up
The Current Quantum Playing Field


During and after each class session students will work on a variety of practice coding scenarios related to quantum computing. These scenarios will assist students in acquiring a familiarity with the concepts being discussed.

No prior knowledge of coding or quantum physics is required.

Questions are both anticipated and encouraged — both during class and after class.

Technology Requirements: Students will code with either Mu Editor (a small, simple editor for beginner Python programmers) or Processing, another free code editor. Both editors work with any Macintosh or Windows computer.