Quantum Computing - an army of Schrödinger's cats is heading our way

Length: 20 minutes

Room: Room 2

Abstract

Quantum Computing (QC) is maturing to become a reality as a large amount of money worldwide is being poured into building quantum computers with varying technologies, such as superconducting, optics-based, and ion-trapping. Indeed, having functional, powerful, and error-free quantum computers together with relevant development platforms is essential. However, the breakthrough applications promised by QC, e.g., in medicine, healthcare, finance, and simulations discovery, finance, are empowered with quantum software. Therefore, there is a need for methods for efficient and intuitive development of quantum software for quantum computers to build QC applications. This lighting talk will start with a brief introduction to quantum computing, including the state of current quantum computers, QC platforms, programming languages, and development platforms. Next, the talk will dig deep into the current practice of programming quantum computers as low-level circuits. Subsequently, the talk will provide ideas on how the current practice can be improved to enable the masses to program quantum computers as opposed to the current practice where only specialists program quantum computers. In addition, the talk will present challenges in testing QC applications to ensure their correctness. Finally, the talk will provide a teaser of quantum software testing tools developed by our team. Such tools are the first in the world to automate the testing of quantum software.

Day & time

Wednesday, September 06, 9:40 – 10:00 AM

Intended audience

Anyone interested in quantum computing with any role, such as developers, testers, managers, etc.

• Noah Hegerland Oldfield

  Noah Hegerland Oldfield is a Ph.D student at Simula Research Laboratory, Norway. Under the supervision of Shaukat Ali, he researches novel methods for testing quantum circuits by drawing upon his previous background in theoretical physics from the University of Oslo. His current research aims at exploiting quantum mechanical properties of quantum programs to perform more efficient and effective error discovery in ways not possible with classical programs. He has a passion for communicating science and particularly quantum computing in the hopes of increasing the general body of knowledge in the computer science community in preparation for the coming 3rd quantum revolution.

  

  @OldfieldHNoah