Instructor: Prof. Chris Godsil
Email: cgodsil@uwaterloo.ca

Course Dates: January 8th - March 27th, 2024
Mid-Semester Break: February 19th - 23rd, 2024
Lecture Times: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays | 1:30 PM - 2:20 PM (ET)
Office Hours: by arrangement (Wednesday and Friday mornings are best)

Registration Fee: PSU Students - Free | Other Students - CAD$500

Capacity Limit: 35 students

Format: Online only via Zoom

Course Description

This course will provide an introduction to problems in quantum computing that can be studied using tools from algebraic graph theory. The quantum topics will relate to quantum walks and to quantum homomorphisms, automorphisms and colouring. The tools from algebraic graph theory include graphs automorphisms and homomorphisms, spectral decomposition and generating functions.

Prerequisites: I will assume a solid background in linear algebra and knowledge of what a permutation group is. Other topics will be covered in class, or in the notes. I will assume the knowledge of physics I had when I started on this topic, that is, no knowledge. Auditing may be permitted by arrangement.

Evaluation: I will post lists of exercises, each with their own due date. Students are expected to submit three to five questions per week, and aim to complete 50 questions. [This is not a system that rewards procrastination. The purpose of the due dates is to have students working on questions related to the current state of the course.)

If your solution is correct you will earn five marks, if there are minor problems you will get four. Otherwise it will be returned for you to rewrite; once you submit a correct solution you will get four marks.

I will happily award bonus marks to exceptional solutions. Some questions may be worth more than five marks; if so this will be noted on the assignment.

All solutions to assignments must be your own work.

Students may propose a project in lieu of some assignment questions. All details will be settled by negotiation. Approval will not be given if the student is behind on the assignments. Joint projects are possible.

Course Website: https://www.math.uwaterloo.ca/~cgodsil/quagmire/Fields24/

You can find all lecture recordings here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLArBKNfJxuul66LfM9f_Zvy3EdkZve3Op