Where should I start learning iTensor as a beginner?

[MHSZ]

Hi everyone,

I’m a master’s student studying Quantum Computing and Quantum Information. My semester starts in about 10 days, and I’d like to get a head start on learning iTensor.

I spoke with my advisor, and they recommended that I become familiar with the package before the semester begins. I’m currently looking for reliable learning resources and beginner-friendly examples.

Where would you recommend I start? Are there any tutorials, documentation pages, courses, or example projects that would be particularly useful for someone new to iTensor?

Thanks a lot for your help!

[miles]

Hi MHSZ,
Thanks for the good question. Right now, the best resources to learn about ITensor are the following:

• Short tutorials with code in the ITensorMPS docs: https://docs.itensor.org/ITensorMPS/stable/tutorials/DMRG.html. Try running these to get a feel for how the code runs, what kind of results you can get, etc.
• Code examples inside of the ITensorMPS source: https://github.com/ITensor/ITensorMPS.jl/tree/main/examples
• Code examples for more fundamental operators with the ITensor type: https://docs.itensor.org/ITensors/stable/examples/ITensor.html
• Slides from the 2025 ITensor School: https://itensor.org/school-2025/. Starting with “Talk 2” we show a lot of pieces of actual ITensor and ITensorMPS code.

For more quantum computing specific information and software:

• The “Tensor Network Quantum Simulator” (TNQS) package by Joey Tindall has a lot of powerful features for simulating quantum circuits in arbitrary dimensions: https://github.com/JoeyT1994/TensorNetworkQuantumSimulator.jl
• For a pedagogical talk about the link between tensor networks and quantum computation, I have a 1.5 hour talk that many people have found useful: https://youtu.be/fq3_7vBcj3g?si=YPPhpA0fSelYnTjb