Black Opal

Learn quantum computing

Go from zero background to programming real quantum computers.

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Learn how to make quantum technology useful with Black Opal

Black Opal is a revolutionary interactive online learning platform designed to make quantum computing accessible to everyone. Whether you're a student, a developer curious about the field, or represent a business looking to empower your workforce, Black Opal offers an intuitive and engaging learning experience.

Discover Black Opal’s 10 learning modules

Introduction

So you’ve heard of quantum technology and how it’s going to revolutionize, well, everything. How do we know that and how does it work?

What is quantum computing?

How do quantum computers work?

Will quantum computers break the internet?

How to build a quantum computer

Analogy toolbox

Superposition

This skill introduces the superposition principle. You'll gain insight into where this principle comes from, why it is necessary, and what you can do with it.

What is quantum computing?

Superposition in a jump rope

Superposition in the quantum world

Superposition in the abstract

Superposition in quantum computing

Qubits

Start with some fundamentals in how we represent information and by the end of this skill you'll understand how we can encode and process information using quantum physics!

It from bit

Qubit from bit

The Bloch circle

Do you |ket⟩ it?

The Bloch sphere

Measurement

Measurement the destructor. What does it mean to measure something in general? What does it mean to measure something in quantum physics? Discover the dirty secrets about measurement in quantum computing.

Bloch party

Randomness rules

Get real

What’s the problem?

Circuits

How do we represent the programs to be run on quantum computers? After this skill you'll be able to decipher some of the cool diagrams you see in the field.

Single qubit warm-up

Double the fun

More, more, more!

You, quantum mechanic

Quantum search

Entanglement

Einstein called it "spooky action at a distance." It's not so spooky, but it may be extremely useful! Discover the most quintessential concept in quantum physics.

Bird’s eye view

Correlations and kets

Creating entanglement

Entanglement in the wild

Variables in hiding

Visualizing entanglement in quantum computers

Noise

Why don't we have useful quantum computers yet? Learn what's holding us back through an understanding of how noise and interference affect quantum computers.

NISQy business

Bloching noise

Controlling noise

Error correction

Control

Learn all about quantum control and how it is used to create quantum gates and combat noise.

Paradigm shifts

Making gates

Noise be gone

Quantum optimization

Speedup

An introduction to the prototypical quantum algorithms that exhibit known speedup over the best classical algorithms.

What is complexity?

Deutsch-Jozsa

Shor’s algorithm

Grover speedups

Programming

Are you ready for the trenches? This skill pits you against the challenges of programming a real quantum computer — assembly code, compiling, qubit topology, and more!

Gate, set, match

Compiling

Code

Quantum optimization

Loved by our community

Students who engaged with Black Opal as an active companion resource significantly boosted knowledge retention and ultimately understanding. Some of them even engaged further with quantum computing by choosing a final-year project in that field.

Dr David Benoit

Senior Lecturer in Molecular Physics and Astrochemistry

University of Hull, UK

A well-structured program that introduces complex quantum computing concepts through intuitive visualisations with concise and clear narrative contents, and interlinked hands-on exercises that reinforce the key points. The self-paced nature of the training is well suited for working professionals.

Tarlan Mammadov

Head of Data Strategy

The activities are interactive, and visualizing the actions of gates on the Bloch sphere is very thorough. There are a lot of perks of the pro subscription!

Tushar Pandey

PhD Student

Black Opal offers beautiful visualizations explaining the fundamentals of quantum computation. The language used is easy to comprehend with no complexity, and easily relatable.

Sagar Mothkuri

PhD Student

Black Opal is needed as quantum computing moves from the domain of quantum physicists to a wider audience and applications. This level of learning helps to demystify quantum computing and fuel the quantum conversation.

Prof. James Rabeau

Honorary Professor in Physics

I highly recommend this for any level of background. It’s a hands on way to learn the basics of quantum computing. I’m going through the lessons for a second time.