Making sense of Quantum Algorithms
Elementary classical algorithms make sense. They are often procedures you can imagine yourself doing by hand, such as scanning a list, splitting a problem into halves or exploring a maze.
Elementary quantum algorithms did not make this kind of intuitive sense when I first studied them. They often are just stated as circuits that you can verify to be correct by a long algebraic derivation. I am developing new ways to see them that are more intuitive. It has helped to frame quantum algorithms in terms of "quantum data structures". Check out my conceptual explanation of Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm (which is one of the first quantum algorithms known to humanity). I have more works coming soon that explain standard quantum algorithms in such a conceptual way.
Quantum Data Structures
Algorithms in classical computer science are stated in terms of data structures. Data structures are specifications of how data of a specific type is stored, and the set of operations it supports. I study quantum data structures, and the computational tasks on which they achieve an advantage. This has been the subject of my PhD thesis, which is soon to be published.
Responsible innovation in Quantum Computing
The one sure application of quantum computing is using them to attack cryptography. Quantum computing scientists should take responsibility for the potential outcome and work on mitigations. One effort from me is Quantum Time Capsule, a public engagement project to raise greater awareness of quantum computing and its threat to cryptography. Quantum Time Capsules are messages encrypted today that will only be readable when a quantum computer is built. A delightful consequence of their design is that they allow non-specialists to become potential users of quantum computers. Read more about the responsible innovation thinking behind the project here.
Computer systems with cybersecurity vulnerabilities are harmful to their users, who may waste resources or have their sensitive information fall in the wrong hands. Therefore, anticipating the cybersecurity vulnerabilities of quantum computers early is a way to mitigate harms that may come from the use of quantum computing. I was involved in a project that discovered a side-channel vulnerability in fault-tolerant quantum computer systems.
I am actively seeking more ways to contribute to quantum computing going well for humanity.