Um simulador simbólico de circuitos quânticos.

Abstract

Quantum computation is one of the most promising current technologies, it is based on the quantum mechanics principles to supply a computational paradigm that will bring an expressive processing power. Problems considered classically intractable will be efficiently solved using quantum computation. Because no effective quantum machine has been implemented yet, the quantum computation simulation tools became the most viable alternative for the study and development of the area. According to this, it is necessary to provide a computational system that allows an appropriate description of a quantum algorithm and a “machine” to simulate this description. In related literature the study of quantum computation is, in general, presented using the quantum circuits language. The understanding of a quantum algorithm is presented through the graphical representation of the circuit (syntax) allied to the symbolic description and manipulation of the system’s state (semantics). In this work it is presented the development process of a Computer Algebra System (CAS) specific for the context of quantum circuits. The CAS was implemented as an extension for Zeno, allowing the simulator to become the only tool that supplies a complete description of the circuits language. The symbolic simulation incorporated to Zeno allows the mathematical descriptions of the system’s state to be created and manipulated easily. In this way, it is possible to simplify or to show alternative representation forms that facilitate the understanding and resolution of the investigated problem. The use of the numerical and graphical utilities allied to the symbolic simulation of quantum circuits, induces and improves the understanding of quantum algorithms and its associated mathematical description. The currently supported functionalities allow the users to work in a faster and more efficient way than making this calculations by hand. Moreover, the CAS also allows a faithful description of the system computation as the descriptions observed in related literature.