Implementing Shor’s algorithm in a quantum computing simulation environment for educational purposes

This article presents a detailed implementation of Shor’s quantum factoring algorithm, which served as the cornerstone for a pilot project at Jamk University of Applied Sciences. The primary goal was to leverage this significant algorithm to establish and validate a reusable quantum simulation environment on a high-performance computing (HPC) platform. We report the successful factorization of the integer 15, executed on the Finnish CSC’s MAHTI supercomputer using a 9-qubit quantum circuit developed in the Qiskit framework. This work provides a comprehensive overview of the principles behind Shor’s algorithm and a methodical breakdown of its simulation. Furthermore, it documents the practical software challenges faced during the environment’s configuration, focusing on library versioning and dependencies. The purpose of this work is to provide a systematic introduction to implement Shor’s algorithm at computer science or applied mathematics classes in institutions of higher education such as universities of applied sciences. The successful factorization provides an initial validation of the simulation workflow for this benchmark case, while the detailed account of implementing Shor’s algorithm offers a practical guide and valuable insights for future quantum computing initiatives at educational institutions with a focus on computer science or scientific computing.