CSE 439/510 Course Information
Fall 2025
Quantum Computing (Via Linear Algebra)
Instructor:
Dr. Kenneth W. Regan 326 Davis
Hall 645-4738 regan@buffalo.edu
Office Hours:
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KWR: Tuesdays 2:00--3:30pm, Wednesdays 1--3pm
Lectures
(LEC) TuTh 12:30pm-1:50pm in Norton 216
Fall 2025 Assignments
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Assignment 1, due Thu. Sep. 11, 11:59pm
on CSE Autograder.
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Assignment 2, due Thu. Sep. 25, 11:59pm
on CSE Autograder.
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Assignment 3, due Thu. Oct. 2, 11:59pm on CSE Autograder.
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Assignment 4, due Sun. Oct. 26, 11:59pm on CSE Autograder.
Sample Prelim I Exam (from Fall 2024)
2025 Lecture Notes (will mostly follow 2024 notes below)
Required Reading
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Textbook: R.J. Lipton and K.W. Regan, Introduction to Quantum Computing Via Linear Algebra,
MIT Press. Second Edition 2020 (preferred).
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Materials on linear algebra in scientific computing, TBA (will be freely given).
Lecture Notes from Fall 2024
Examinations:
- Two prelim exams---the first targeted for Thu. Oct. 9---and
- One cumulative 3-hr. final.
Organization:
The course will be graded on a total-points system.
Letter grades will also be given for individual exams and possibly some
assignments, as a help in telling you where you stand,
but only the point totals will have official significance.
Homework: 35%
Prelims: 30%
Final: 35%
I reserve the right to 5% leeway in weighting while
assigning the final
letter grade-this is most typically done for students who do
markedly well on the final exam, when it may be treated as if it were
worth 32% for that student.
This will only be done to an individual student's advantage,
and will have no effect on others' grades.
The homework will consist of weekly or bi-weekly problem sets. All
submissions will be in PDF format via CSE Autolab---scanned or photographed PDFs of
handwritten homeworks will be fine.
Problem set submissions must be your own individual work .
No joint submissions will be accepted. In an early lecture I will
explain the purpose of individual work, academic integrity, and
the "qualitative" nature of exercises in this course.
I will give guidelines on how work can be done and what can be discussed
among you.
Cheating will be punished as per department policy-in a graduate
community this shouldn't have to be said, but alas it does.
The Department's policy statement is available here.
My (KWR) general policy is not to implement a lateness-for-reduced-credit scheme. Instead
I say that late work is not acceptable but extensions may be granted on request. Especially
in smaller classes I am liberal with extensions, especially the 24-hour kind, but I still
wish a request. In return, you get an answer key shortly afterward, and a relatively quick
turnaround of graded work before the next problem set is due. In an exceptional situation,
you may contact me beforehand.
Approximate Course Calendar
The plan is to cover Part I of the text, up through Shor's and Grover's Algorithms.
Some material from the physics-intro Chapter 14 in the 2nd edition will be interspersed.
In the last 5 weeks or so, the course will cover other topics in linear algebra and
scientific computation: including spectra, singular-value decompositions, representation of tensors.
These may have the theme of attempts to classically simulate quantum algorithms---in the
ongoing debate over "quantum supremacy."
Homeworks or Piazza posts will give indication from week to week of
exactly what to read. I cannot spell out a timetable in greater detail now because my lectures
will adjust to the needs of the class. I welcome feedback to me personally.
Fall 2024 Assignments
(some answers will be given for practice)
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Assignment 1, due Sun. Sep. 15, 11:59pm
on CSE Autograder.
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Assignment 2, due Thu. Sep. 26, 11:59pm
as PDF on CSE Autograder.
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Assignment 3, due Thu. Oct. 3, 11:59pm
as PDF on CSE Autograder.
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Assignment 4, due Fri. Nov. 1, 11:59pm
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Assignment 5, due Fri. Nov. 15, 11:59pm
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Assignment 6 (the last), due Mon. Dec. 9, 11:59pm