Introduction to Quantum and DNA Computing

This course aims to introduce students to the concept of unconventional computation and, in particular, Quantum and DNA computing.

Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

• Understand in depth the concepts and paradigms of unconventional computation.
• Acquire a firm understanding of Quantum computing, its novel principles, its challenges for the designers of algorithms, and its potential for achieving Quantum Supremacy.
• Familiarize themselves with DNA computing and its potential for solving computationally difficult problems.
• Become acquainted with the groundbreaking algorithms of Deutsch, Deutsch–Jozsa, Simon, Shor and Grover.

This course is an introductory course to the Theory of DNA, Quantum and, in general, Unconventional Computation for third year undergraduate students. It covers the following topics:

• A brief survey of classical models of computation such as Turing Machines.
• Introduction to unconventional computing paradigms.
• Introduction to quantum computing. Basic principles of quantum mechanics. Dirac’s formalism.
• DNA computing. Adleman’s experiments.
• The groundbreaking algorithms of Deutsch, Deutsch–Jozsa, Simon, Shor and Grover.
• Simulating quantum computation.
• The quantum computer D-Wave Advantage™ (quantum annealer) and the IBM Quantum System One™ (circuit model of quantum computation).

1. ”Κβαντική Υπολογιστική”, Καραφυλλίδης Ιωάννης, Εκδόσεις Ελληνικά Ακαδημαϊκά Ηλεκτρονικά Συγγράμματα και Βοηθήματα - Αποθετήριο "Κάλλιπος", ISBN 978-960-603-002-4, 2015
2. “Κβαντομηχανική Τόμος ΙΙ”, Τραχανάς Στέφανος, Εκδόσεις ΙΤΕ - Πανεπιστημιακές Εκδόσεις Κρήτης, ISBN 978-960-524-267-1, 2009