Introduction to Quantum Information and Computation
Undergraduate/Graduate Elective, IIT Indore, Department of Physics, 2026
Course Overview
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of quantum information and quantum computation. Students will develop expertise in quantum information theory, quantum entanglement, quantum gates and circuits, and quantum communication protocols—core concepts for understanding modern quantum technologies.
Course Code & Structure
- Course Code: PH 322
- Category: Department Elective
- Credits: 2-0-2-3 (Lecture-Tutorial-Practical-Total)
- Prerequisite: Basics of Quantum Mechanics, Linear Algebra
Course Objectives & Outcomes
Objectives: To understand the basics of quantum information and computation and develop problem-solving skills in these areas.
Learning Outcomes: Students will develop understanding of:
- Fundamentals of quantum information and quantum bits (qubits)
- Quantum entanglement and multipartite quantum systems
- Quantum computation and quantum algorithms
- Quantum communication protocols and their applications
- Measurement theory and quantum operations
Course Syllabus
Preliminaries
- Overview of classical information, computation, and complexity classes
- Introduction to quantum computing paradigms
States and Operators
- Axioms of quantum mechanics
- Qubit systems and quantum states
- Mixed states and density operators
- Bloch sphere representation
Composite Systems
- Entanglement in pure states
- Local operations and classical communication (LOCC)
- Entanglement in mixed states
- Peres-Horodecki criterion of separability
- Multipartite entanglement classes
Measurement and Operations
- Orthogonal and generalized (POVM) measurements
- Quantum operations and quantum channels
- Noise in quantum systems
- Quantum error correction basics
Quantum Gates and Circuits
- Single-qubit gates and operations
- Multi-qubit gates (CNOT, Toffoli, etc.)
- Universal gate sets
- Quantum circuit diagrams and notation
Entropy and Information Theory
- Shannon entropy and classical information
- Von Neumann entropy
- Quantum relative entropy
- Strong subadditivity and data processing inequality
Quantum Communication Protocols
- No-cloning theorem
- Quantum teleportation
- Quantum dense coding
- Quantum key distribution basics
Primary Textbook
M. A. Nielsen and I. L. Chuang, Quantum Computation and Quantum Information: 10th Anniversary Edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2010). ISBN: 978-1107002173.
Reference Books
D. Bruss (Editor), G. Leuchs (Editor), Quantum Information: From Foundations to Quantum Technology Applications (2nd edition), Wiley-VCH, Germany (2019). ISBN: 978-3527413539.
M. Wilde, Quantum Information Theory, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2013). ISBN: 978-1107034259.
J. Preskill, Quantum Information Lecture Notes, California Institute of Technology (available online).
Teaching Approach
This course combines theoretical foundations with practical problem-solving. Students engage with:
- Rigorous mathematical treatment of quantum mechanics applied to information theory
- Worked examples and problem sets
- Laboratory/computational components exploring quantum algorithms
- Discussion of current applications in quantum technology
Assessment
- Problem sets and assignments (30%)
- Practical/computational projects (30%)
- Mid-term examination (20%)
- Final examination (20%)