Integration of Quantum Information Systems in Computer Science and in Electrical Engineering

Abstract

We present a case for the process of including Quantum Information Systems as a course (or equivalent material) in the Computer Science and Engineering and in the Electrical Engineering curricula We suggest a challenging outline for an integrated applied science course involving related thermodynamics, information theory and quantum phenomena. As an introductory course, it should have the intellectual motivational appeal of the applied quantum phenomena including those yet to be fully understood. The implications and new approaches to programming quantum computers will face current students within the next five to ten years as new quantum architectures appear in the marketplace. Network communications capacity and the limits of Moore's law will encourage QIS in a market demanding big-data crunching and security. We emphasize the basic and architectural conditions necessary for special and general purpose computation. While Cloud providers could augment their services by offering special purpose quantum algorithms. Broad applications such as optimization in quantum attached processors, the benefits of overall faster computation will occur only in general purpose architectures requiring quantum storage. The current designs discussed consider some of the QIS implementations possible, with the intention of motivating potential curious students and teachers alike.