Computer Science 590Q - Quantum Information Systems
Fall
2026
01
3.00
Donald Towsley
M W 10:10AM 11:25AM
UMass Amherst
12294
Computer Science Bldg rm 140
towsley@cs.umass.edu
12233,12295
Fundamentals of quantum information systems, including quantum computation and quantum cryptography. Topics include: quantum circuit model, qubits, unitary operators, measurement, entanglement, quantum algorithms for factoring and search, quantum key distribution, error-correction and fault-tolerance, complexity of quantum computation. This course counts as a CS Elective for the CS Major (BA or BS).
Open to junior and senior Computer Science students who have completed MATH 235 with a grade of C or better. MEETS WITH COMPSCI 648. LEC 01 FOR UNDERGRADS; LEC 02 FOR GRADS. KNOWLEDGE OF QUANTUM MECHANICS IS NOT A PREREQUISITE; QUANTUM CONCEPTS WILL BE INTRODUCED AS NEEDED. BACKGROUND SHOULD INCLUDE FAMILIARITY WITH CALCULUS (MATH 131, 132), KNOWLEDGE OF SOME PROBABILITY AND DISCRETE MATH. KNOWLEDGE OF ALGORITHMS AND COMPLEXITY ARE NOT PREREQUISITES; WILL BE INTRODUCED AS NEEDED. STUDENTS NEEDING SPECIAL PERMISSION MUST REQUEST OVERRIDES VIA THE ON-LINE FORM: https://www.cics.umass.edu/academics/course-overrides