Université Paris Cité Hosts Quantum Programming Session for Students

Led by Vivien Londe, a quantum computing specialist at Université Paris Cité, a one-day introductory quantum programming session was organised for interns from the Graduate School Quantum Technologies’ two masters programmes, PhD students from the Institut de Recherche en Informatique Fondamentale (IRIF) and the Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques (MPQ) laboratory, and IRIF post-docs. The session, held recently, covered fundamental and specialised topics, including phase estimation and Hamiltonian simulation – a methodology utilising a controllable quantum computer to simulate other quantum systems. Attendees with basic Python knowledge were instructed in coding well-known quantum algorithms, with one student noting the session’s accessibility was enhanced by simplified examples, such as a specific implementation of phase estimation illustrated through an analogy with water waves.

A one-day introductory session on quantum programming was organised by the Graduate School Quantum Technologies of Université Paris Cité, and led by quantum computing specialist Vivien Londe. Attendees included interns from the Graduate School’s two masters programmes, PhD students from the Institut de Recherche en Informatique Fondamentale (IRIF) and the Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques (MPQ) laboratory, as well as IRIF post-docs. The session provided an opportunity for attendees to learn how to code well-known quantum algorithms using a quantum software development environment, requiring a recommended basic knowledge of the Python programming language for accuracy analysis.

The morning session was dedicated to a fundamental algorithm in quantum computing: quantum phase estimation, which Vivien Londe presented as one of the most important quantum algorithms for chemistry. A simplified example of quantum phase estimation was implemented to make the session more accessible and instructive, as noted by one student attendee. The session also illustrated quantum phase estimation with an analogy to water waves, which was favourably received.

The afternoon session introduced students to Hamiltonian simulation, a methodology involving the use of a controlled quantum system – the quantum computer – to simulate another quantum system under investigation. The session provided an overview of both fundamental concepts and more specialized topics within quantum programming, offering participants an opportunity to begin working with quantum programming languages.