Experimental State-of-the-Art in Quantum Hardware

Quantum hardware is what turns the novel concepts of quantum computation, sensing and communication into reality. The key challenge is to initialize, control, couple, transmit and read out the fragile stage of quantum systems with great precision and in a technologically viable way. While Theoretical Concepts of Quantum Hardware (AP3433) is focused on teaching the underpinning theoretical tools, Experimental State-of-the-Art in Quantum Hardware will give you an overview of the experimental state-of-the-art. You will learn about several promising approaches for realizing quantum hardware, and critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. You will also get insight in the conceptual similarities and differences between the various technologies. Specifically, the course will cover general concepts and considerations of qubit hardware, such as trapped ions, superconducting circuits, quantum dots, color centers, cold atoms, photonic circuits, single-photon sources, single-photon detectors and quantum repeaters.

Grades will be established based on homework assignments (40%), paper presentations (25%), and a final exam (35%). The lowest homework grade does not count. This means you can miss one homework without having points deducted. Two missed homeworks will affect your grade, regardless of why you missed them. In order to pass the course, a minimum exam grade (or retake exam grade) of 5.0 is needed.

In unusual cases, a retake exam--which will be oral--will be offered by appointment. In this case, the grade for the retake exam replaces the grade of the final exam.