2022-2023 Quantum Computing Ph.D. Qualifying Examination

Department of Computer Science, Virginia Tech

Exam committee

• Dr. Jamie Sikora, Chair

• Dr. Sharath Raghvendra

• Dr. Lenwood Heath

Exam Format

• The committee will provide a topic in Quantum Computing and also suggest important papers within. The student will write a written report as detailed in the link below. After submitting his/her paper to the committee, the student will give a 15-minute presentation of their work followed by a brief question period (approximately 15 minutes).

• Each student will be evaluated on the content and quality of their written paper and their presentation/answers.

Schedule

• The list of topics (and, contained within, the recommended format for the paper) will be released on December 1, 2022.

• In order to register for this exam, students must send an email to Jamie Sikora by December 07, 2022 with the subject "PhD qualifying exam registration 2022-23 - Quantum Computing".

• In order to submit the written exam, students must send an email with attachment to Jamie Sikora by January 14, 2023 with the subject "PhD qualifying exam report 2022-23 - Quantum Computing". After which, the presentation will be scheduled in consultation with the committee.

Note: Registration is binding. The withdraw date is December 21, 2022.

Topics

• Quantum state discrimination (pdf available here).

Before each of the dates above make sure you check this page for updates.

• Update #1 [Dec 1, 2022]: The written report is now due January 14, 2023.

• Update #2 [Dec 1, 2022]: The oral examination will not be scheduled on the dates Feb 03-11 due to the QIP conference. More details are forthcoming.

• Update #3 [Dec 1, 2022]: The topic has now been posted.