PQI2020

Dr. Scott J. Aaronson, David J. Bruton Centennial Professor of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin, gave the PQI2020 Public Lecture.

Last fall, a team at Google announced the first-ever demonstration of "quantum computational supremacy"---that is, a clear quantum speedup over a classical computer for some task---using a 53-qubit programmable superconducting chip called Sycamore. In addition to engineering, Google's accomplishment built on a decade of research in quantum complexity theory. This talk will discuss questions like: what exactly was the contrived problem that Google solved? How does one verify the outputs using a classical computer? And how confident are we that the problem is classically hard---especially in light of subsequent counterclaims by IBM? He'll end with a proposed application for Google's experiment---namely, the generation of certified random bits, for use (for example) in proof-of-stake cryptocurrencies---that he has been developing and that Google is now working to demonstrate.

This week's focus is on quantum computing and we are pleased to be joined by our featured speaker, So Hirata from UI Urbana-Champaign. Rongchao Jin was unable to join due to unforeseen circumstances.

So Hirata, UIUC, “Numerical Evidence Invalidating Textbook Finite-Temperature Perturbation Theory”

This week's focus is on quantum materials and we are pleased to be joined by our featured speaker, Chris Van de Walle from UC Santa Barbara, and PQI member contributing speaker, Linda Peteanu from CMU.

Linda Peteanu (CMU) "Probing Single- and Bi-excitonic States in Silicon Nanoparticles"

Chris Van de Walle, UCSB, “Modeling Point Defects for Quantum Information Science”

This week's focus is on quantum materials and we are pleased to be joined by our featured speaker, Xiaodong Xu from the University of Washington, and PQI member contributing speakers, Jimmy Zhu from CMU and Nathan Youngblood from Pitt.

Jimmy Zhu (CMU), “Field Free Spin Hall Switching of Perpendicular MTJs”

Xiadong Xu (University of Washington) “2D Magnets and Heterostructures"

Nathan Youngblood (Pitt), "Highly parallel in-memory computing with phase-change photonics”

This week's focus is on quantum chemistry and we are pleased to be joined by our featured speaker, Heather Kulik from MIT, and PQI member contributing speakers, Olexandr Isayev from CMU and Peng Liu from University of Pittsburgh.

Olexandr Isayev (CMU) “Supercharging quantum mechanics with artificial intelligence (AI)”

Heather Kulik (MIT) “Molecular design blueprints: new simulation and machine learning tools for inorganic discovery”

Peng Liu (Pitt) "Using Energy Decomposition Analysis to Guide Rational Catalyst Design"