IBM Quantum Challenge

This was a fun 4 day program with the IBM Quantum Challenge. I probably spent +- 30 hours working through the 4 challenges, and during this time I recognized I really needed to learn more of the fundamental math aspects which Physics is built upon. In the end I completed all the work, the final challenge was a monster for someone with little theoretical knowledge in the field but after a few hints and tips from the team, I had a score which was acceptable.

This was the final requirements:

What circuit would make such a complicated unitary?

Is there some symmetry, or is it random? We just updated Qiskit with the introduction of a quantum circuit library (https://github.com/Qiskit/qiskit-terra/tree/master/qiskit/circuit/library). This library gives users access to a rich set of well-studied circuit families, instances of which can be used as benchmarks (quantum volume), as building blocks in building more complex circuits (adders), or as tools to explore quantum computational advantage over classical computation (instantaneous quantum polynomial complexity circuits).from qiskit import QuantumCircuit from may4_challenge.ex4 import check_circuit, submit_circuit

Using only single qubit rotations and CNOT gates, find a quantum circuit that approximates that unitary  by a unitary  up to an error , such that  !

Note that the norm we are using here is the spectral norm, .

This can be seen as the largest scaling factor that the matrix  has on any initial (normalized) state . One can show that this norm corresponds to the largest singular value of , i.e., the square root of the largest eigenvalue of the matrix , where  denotes the conjugate transpose of .

When you submit a circuit, we remove the global phase of the corresponding unitary  before comparing it with  using the spectral norm. For example, if you submit a circuit that generates , we remove the global phase  from  before computing the norm, and you will have a successful submission. As a result, you do not have to worry about matching the desired unitary, , up to a global phase.

As the single-qubit gates have a much higher fidelity than the two-qubit gates, we will look at the number of CNOT-gates, , and the number of u3-gates, , to determine the cost of your decomposition as

Try to optimize the cost of your decomposition.

Note that you will need to ensure that your circuit is composed only of  and  gates. The exercise is considered correctly solved if your cost is smaller than 1600.

import qiskit.extensions.quantum_initializer.isometry as isometry from qiskit.quantum_info.operators import Operator import qiskit.compiler.transpile as transpile from scipy.linalg import hadamard from math import pi qc = QuantumCircuit(4) #apply hadamard using u3 gates qc.u3(pi/2,0,pi,[0]) qc.u3(pi/2,0,pi,[1]) qc.u3(pi/2,0,pi,[2]) qc.u3(pi/2,0,pi,[3]) #k=HUH Y=np.diag(k*np.exp(-2j*pi/3)) qc.diagonal(list(Y),[0,1,2,3]) qc.u3(pi/2,0,pi,[0]) qc.u3(pi/2,0,pi,[1]) qc.u3(pi/2,0,pi,[2]) qc.u3(pi/2,0,pi,[3]) qc3=transpile(qc, basis_gates=['u3', 'cx'],optimization_level=3) check_circuit(qc3) Circuit stats: ||U-V||_2 = 2.5785120546697708e-15 (U is the reference unitary, V is yours, and the global phase has been removed from both of them). Cost is 51 Great! Your circuit meets all the constrains. Your score is 51. The lower, the better! Feel free to submit your answer and remember you can re-submit a new circuit at any time! qc3.draw(output='mpl') read more

#IBM Quantum Challenge

I just got finished submitting my last optimization circuit for the 2020 IBM Quantum Challenge. It was a hectic 4 days of spare time working through their challenges but very rewarding. It’s amazing what a small concept like a “Challenge” can do for your motivation to understand more about a technology or field, but to me the size of Quantum Computing community seems to have, all of a sudden, grown larger.

There have been over 5 billion circuits run against IBM Q, 1,745 participants, over 1000 people in a Slack channel who were sharing, bantering and encouraging their peers and a considerable amount of learning about circuit optimization. If I had only brushed up on my linear algebra I think I would have done a little better 😉 read more

Side Project: qubit²

Over the past couple of years I have had a keen interest in quantum computing and the optimism of its benefits over traditional computing methods. I have read countless papers, articles and spent a considerable amount of time deciding how I would explain it to a 5 year old.

ELI5: A normal computer is like a light switch is either on or off. A quantum computer is more like a dimmer switch, it can be partially on, or partially off.

It’s overly simplistic but gives a simple understanding of the potential states that the device can be in. I also wonder how I would explain QC to friends or technology friends. Trying to find the right words that quantify both its elementary simplicity and its quantitative complexity is difficult, especially when you yourself don’t fully grasp it. But like other technologies, the best way to learn is by doing … experimenting, researching and proofing. Leading to your own understanding and comprehension of existing anecdotes and theories or new ones. read more

Porters 5 Forces

During my MBA, one of the classes which really resonated and appealed to me was Global Strategic Management. During the class we utilized a model called Porters 5 Forces to evaluate a companies strategic and competitive advantage.

This diagram nicely summarizes the model:

Here are a few papers and docs I wrote which use this:

Here are papers which I did not write, but found relevant since they also use Porters 5 forces for analysis:

  • Amazon (2014)
  • QuintilesIMS
Amazon_19-Nov.-2014Download QuintilesIMS-Final-Presentation-031918Download
Posted in MBA

MBA: Lucchetti Case Study

  • Company in Peru
  • Consumer product packaging sector
  • Luksic group subsidary (purchased in 1965)
  • Lucchetti
  • Founded in 1900’s
  • Pasta, edible oils, soups and broths
  • Known for quality, nutritional value and competitive prices.
  • Multiple household names
  • 1996 had 38% of chilean pasta market
  • Wanted to get into Peru for expansion
Company Analysis
Business model
Other notesFounded in 1900’sPasta, edible oils, soups and brothsKnown for quality, nutritional value and competitive prices.Multiple household names1996 had 38% of chilean pasta marketWanted to get into Peru for expansionPremium brandBusiness started in June 1995Decided to build plant in 1996 (due to new import duties and growth) seemed approval before starting etc.Assigned Carlos Aramburu to oversee environmental concerns of constructionInitially imported products from ChilePartnered with a distribution firm for direct sales and distribution
Internal Environment Analysis
StrengthsPart of existing conglomerate (diversified holdings)Newer / optimized production processesDistribution and service networkGrowing market share despite factory issuesEnd of 1998 had 23% market share
WeaknessesImport dutiesNet losses of 15$M 1999Sales decline in 2001 from 45m to 34 (still had $6 profit)Major losses from operations 61M.No political connections?
General Environment Analysis
OpportunitiesHigh consumption rates of 8 to 9 KG per capita per yearPasta normally sold in build, packaged pasta relatively newLow qualityAnticipated a growing economy price increase and demand increaseTax and repatriation benefits
ThreatsPossibly being targeted by politicians during building expansion as other companies were not being scrutinized (3M, KMB, etc.)Price warCompetitorsAdditional increasing import duties (18 to 25% of wheat) Negative publicity from MotesinosNational level support, but not at the local level
Industry Environment Analysis
Social/CulturalMajority of food sold in neighborhood markets and mom-pop stores10 % sold in supermarkets
Political/LegalPeru encouraged external investment through tax incentivesRepatriate profitsNo discrimination between local and forgein in investorsFujimori president elected in 90’s, reelected after some constitutional changes in 95.Major Anti corruption campaign Made it tough for the domestic manufacturers, workers and poor2000 major political upheval
EconomicGrowing economy
Global
DemographicLower income nation
Porters 5 Forces Model
Bargaining Power of Buyer
Bargaining Power of Supplier
Threat of new Entrants
Threat of Product Substitutes
Inter firm Rivalry
Competitor EnvironmentProducing lower quality pasta in older factoriesLess optimized production facilities
Alicorp – 3000 pound gorilla in Peruvian pasta market4th largest company in PeruEconomies of scalePort handlingflourCookies and crackersEdible oils etc.Massive distribution network reaching 90% of POSAlso built a new plant in 1997
Carrozzi – Lucchettis main competitor in ChileAlso entered PeruEntry mode AcquisitionPurchased company Molitalia (18% market share)Didn’t build a new factory or change its name
Molitalia
Competitive Advantage
Valuable
Rare
Imperfectly Imitable“Costly to imitate”
Non-Substitutable
RecommendationsCould have made a better bid for local companyBetter competition analysis of AlicorpMisjudged external environment (specifically political situation)
Posted in MBA