Semester Calendar Date

Observation of string breaking on a (2+1)D Rydberg quantum simulator

Abstract: Fundamental forces of nature are described by gauge theories, and the interactions of matter with gauge fields lead to intriguing phenomena like the confinement of quarks in quantum chromodynamics. Separating a confined quark-anti-quark pair incurs an energy cost that grows linearly with their separation, eventually leading to the production of additional particles by an effect that is called string-breaking. In this talk, I will discuss how similar phenomenology can be probed using Rydberg atom arrays.

Quantum Vortices of Photons

Abstract: Vortices appear in optics as phase twists in the electromagnetic field resulting from light-matter interactions. Quantum vortices, characterized by phase singularities in the wavefunction, are typically associated with strongly interacting many-particle systems. However, the emergence of vortices through the effective interaction of light with itself, a phenomenon requiring strong optical nonlinearity, was previously limited to the classical regime until recent advancements. 

Observation of string breaking on a (2+1)D Rydberg quantum simulator

Fundamental forces of nature are described by gauge theories, and the interactions of matter with gauge fields lead to intriguing phenomena like the confinement of quarks in quantum chromodynamics. Separating a confined quark-anti-quark pair incurs an energy cost that grows linearly with their separation, eventually leading to the production of additional particles by an effect that is called string-breaking. In this talk, I will discuss how similar phenomenology can be probed using Rydberg atom arrays.

Complexity-constrained quantum thermodynamics

Irreversible quantum computation requires thermodynamic work. In principle, one can often evade work costs by implementing reversible transformations. In practice, complexity---the difficulty of realizing a quantum process---poses an obstacle: a realistic agent can perform only a limited number of gates and so not every reversible transformation. Hence an agent, if unable to complete a task unitarily, may expend work on an irreversible process, such as erasure, to finish the job.

Complexity-constrained quantum thermodynamics

Abstract: Irreversible quantum computation requires thermodynamic work. In principle, one can often evade work costs by implementing reversible transformations. In practice, complexity---the difficulty of realizing a quantum process---poses an obstacle: a realistic agent can perform only a limited number of gates and so not every reversible transformation. Hence an agent, if unable to complete a task unitarily, may expend work on an irreversible process, such as erasure, to finish the job.

Modeling Superconducting Circuits for Quantum Computing and Quantum Sensing Applications

Superconducting circuits are at the forefront of quantum computing and quantum sensing technologies, where accurate modeling and simulation are crucial for understanding and optimizing their performance. In this dissertation, we study modeling techniques and novel device designs to advance these technologies, focusing on efficient simulations, direct velocity measurement, and nonreciprocal devices for quantum information processing.

Quantum codes as robust phases of matter

Abstract: There is a deep connection between quantum error correction and phases of matter for spatially local codes in finite dimensions.  I will show how this analogy extends to more general settings: quantum codes with check soundness are absolutely stable phases of matter.  These codes include constant-rate quantum low-density parity-check codes, which shows that the third law of thermodynamics is false: there exist absolutely stable phases of matter with constant entropy density at zero temperature.