Quantum Circuits on Real Hardware: Topology, Noise, and Compilation

A quantum circuit that looks clean in a textbook becomes something different on real hardware. Limited qubit connectivity, gate errors, and decoherence all reshape what is possible, and circuit compilers play an essential role in bridging the gap. This course explores those practical realities so you can reason about what runs well today versus what remains theoretical. You will work through written scenarios that compare ideal circuit behavior with realistic hardware behavior across different platforms. The course also addresses the compilers that translate high-level circuits into hardware-specific instructions. What you'll learn: - Understand qubit connectivity, gate fidelities, and decoherence times across hardware platforms - Recognize how SWAP networks and qubit routing transform circuits to fit hardware topology - Explore the role of circuit compilers and the optimizations they apply during compilation - Apply error mitigation techniques that extend the useful range of noisy intermediate-scale hardware - Plan experiments that balance circuit complexity against achievable accuracy - Read benchmarks and hardware characterizations critically to inform realistic expectations The course begins with hardware characteristics, moves through topology and compilation, and closes with error mitigation and experiment planning. A capstone written exercise asks you to analyze a chosen circuit for execution on a specific hardware platform. This course is designed for committed beginners with a foundation in quantum gates and circuits, including computer scientists, engineers, and researchers exploring real hardware work. No prior hardware experience is required. The course is informational and stays focused on practical understanding rather than speculative forecasting.