The Quantum Enigmas*

The Quantum computing platform team at Institut quantique has created a series of animated videos titled The Quantum Enigmas, which aims to introduce college and bachelor students to quantum computing. The format starts with a short narrative set in a colorful sci-fi universe where characters must answer an enigma using a single question and then transitions to a quantum circuit to see how the problem question is translated using basic quantum gates. Once the algorithm is programmed on a quantum computer, the results are analyzed and verified. 

 

The video series explores the basic quantum phenomena of superposition, entanglement, parallelism, and measurement. While there is no quantum advantage demonstrated before the video series gets to the fifth enigma, the videos build up in terms of complexity from one to the other. This helps students develop a quantum approach to problem-solving as well as foster a general curiosity towards quantum computing. 

 

This presentation will also focus on how each enigma is appropriately translated and programmed on a quantum computer. The series tracking metrics include YouTube views and comments as well as social media shares and the download numbers for the complimentary programming exercises document. The Quantum Enigmas video series is produced in French and English to reach local and international audiences.