Quantum Computing. Less Formulas - More Understanding (Coursera)

On the first week I try to explain in simple language (I hope) where the computational power of a quantum computer comes from, and why it is so hard to implement it. To understand the materials of this week you don't need math above the school level. Second and third weeks are about the mathematical model of quantum computing, and how it is justified experimentally. Some more math is required here. I introduce the notion of a linear vector space, discuss some simple differential equations and use complex numbers. The forth week is dedicated to the mathematical language of quantum mechanics. You might need this if you want to dig deeper into subject, however I touch only the tip of the iceberg here. On the week 5 I finally introduce some simple quantum algorithms for cryptography and teleportation.

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Two Basic Questions

Why quantum computers are believed to be so powerful, and yet why they aren't implemented on the industrial scale? We will briefly discuss these questions and maybe some more.

WEEK 2

The Origins of the Mathematical Model. Part 1

WEEK 3

The Origins of the Mathematical Model. Part 2

WEEK 4

The Language of Quantum Mechanics

WEEK 5

Quantum Cryptography and Teleportation