Scientific Series

Systems in thermal equilibrium at non-zero temperature are described by their Gibbs state. For classical many-body systems, the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm gives a Markov process with a local update rule that samples from the Gibbs distribution. For quantum systems, sampling from the Gibbs state is significantly more challenging. Many algorithms have been proposed, but these are more complex than the simple local update rule of classical Metropolis sampling, requiring non-trivial quantum algorithms such as phase estimation as a subroutine.

Here, we show that a dissipative quantum algorithm with a simple, local update rule is able to sample from the quantum Gibbs state. In contrast to the classical case, the quantum Gibbs state is not generated by converging to the fixed point of a Markov process, but by the states generated at the stopping time of a conditionally stopped process. This gives a new answer to the long-sought-after quantum analogue of Metropolis sampling. Compared to previous quantum Gibbs sampling algorithms, the local update rule of the process has a simple implementation, which may make it more amenable to near-term implementation on suitable quantum hardware. We also show how this can be used to estimate partition functions using the stopping statistics of an ensemble of runs of the dissipative Gibbs sampler. This dissipative Gibbs sampler works for arbitrary quantum Hamiltonians, without any assumptions on or knowledge of its properties, and comes with certifiable precision and run-time bounds.
This talk is based on 2304.04526, completed in collaboration with Jan-Lukas Bosse and Toby Cubitt.

Zoom Link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/96780945341?pwd=NG9SUjE4SkVia3VqazNXUFNUamhRdz09

Complementing the spectacular breakthroughs in gravitational wave and multi-messenger astronomy, advancements in our theoretical understanding and modelling of the strong gravity are essential to apprehending the nonlinear dynamics of spacetime, and to unlocking the full potential of the observations. I will illustrate the scope of new physics that might be probed by black holes, neutron stars, and other such systems, including testing general relativity and strong gravity signatures of new particles, and describe some recent developments that allow for uncovering novel phenomena and making detailed predictions in this regime.

Zoom Link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/96180256322?pwd=LzEyd3ZBWGdZeDR6MjB1dGpLWFRpUT09

It has long been known in studies of Pion physics, non-linear sigma models and cosmology that thinking in terms of field space metrics can be useful. Such an approach can help identify and define field redefinition invariant physics in observables. This approach is reemerging recently an a key organizing principle and calculational tool for interpreting collider physics data to study Higgs properties. I will review some known results and discuss outstanding issues being worked on in this area. 

Zoom Link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/96662488113?pwd=cGs0THQwWXRkcm9pVzcwVytnNjZ5Zz09

For a theory whose half-BPS sector can be described by N=4 quiver quantum mechanics, its BPS algebra (à la Harvey-Moore) is given by the quiver Yangian. I will first review the construction of the BPS quiver Yangians and then discuss their applications, such as on BPS counting, Gauge/Bethe correspondence, and knot-quiver correspondence. 

Zoom Link: TBD

There are fascinating new insights we could achieve if we succeeded in connecting quantum gravity to particle physics in the visible and the dark universe. However, making such a connection is challenging, because the typical scale of quantum gravity is believed to be far from the typical scales in particle physics. I will exploit lever arms that could make it possible to bridge this gap in scales.  To provide concrete examples for these ideas, I will review recent results on the proton lifetime in quantum gravity, the effects of asymptotically safe quantum gravity on properties of Standard Model matter and the effects of asymptotically safe quantum gravity on simple models of dark energy and dark matter.

Zoom Link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/96545839038?pwd=UG1IVzJPWUZGa2ovOFhzdHBhOFhOdz09

In this talk, I will start by motivating the introduction of new- (quantum) physics effects in black hole spacetimes through a principled-parameterized approach. I will then discuss how these new-physics effect can affect the formation of non-singular black holes by applying the principled-parameterized approach to gravitational collapse. This will serve as a motivation to study non-singular black hole parameterizations beyond circularity. Finally, I will present how quantum gravity effects linked to these guiding principles can be traced back to observational imprints in synthetic (ng)EHT images, in particular in photon rings.

Zoom Link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/93325159463?pwd=aGlQUHJzWWg1d3hBRzAwOURGY3NFdz09

I will argue that a fruitful strategy to make progress in quantum gravity is to connect distinct approaches and transfer methods and ideas from one approach to another. As a concrete example, I will explain recent results in causal-set quantum gravity. The first, namely the construction of a higher-order curvature operator in causal sets, is motivated by the idea to use causal sets as a Lorentzian regularization of the gravitational path integral, in which one can search for asymptotic safety. The second, namely an upper bound on the mass of scalars is inspired by the "matter matters" program in asymptotically safe quantum gravity, in which observational tests of quantum gravity are based on gravity's interplay with matter. I will argue that a similar program for causal sets can provide new, observationally motivated constraints on causal set quantum gravity.To provide background and motivation for these results, I'll provide brief and pedagogical introductions into the key features and key open challenges of both asymptotically safe quantum gravity as well as causal set quantum gravity.

Zoom Link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/99855484685?pwd=M0IvOFk1OWNCdVlZVDdkUFQ4MzZKUT09

In this talk, I will present three algorithms that address distinct variants of the problem of testing quantum states. First, I will discuss the problem of statistically testing whether an unknown quantum state is a matrix product state of certain bond dimension or it is far from all such states. Next, I will demonstrate a method for testing whether a bipartite quantum state, shared between two parties, corresponds to the ground state of a given gapped local Hamiltonian. Finally, I will present a scheme for verifying that a machine learning model of an unknown quantum state has high overlap with the actual state.

Zoom Link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/99250127489?pwd=UCtXUi9zMzJZamppT29DbWtJcWU3Zz09

Primordial black holes (PBHs), if they exist, may shed light on long-standing questions on the nature
of dark matter and mechanism driving cosmic inflation. If we associate their origin to the presence of enhanced primordial scalar fluctuations generated during inflation, the underlying dynamics that populates these objects can also provide distinctive sources of gravitational waves (GWs), potentially detectable with current or forthcoming GW experiments. Therefore, their population, along with the associated GW signal offer promising opportunities to shed light on the nature of inflation, by opening up a unique window to its dynamics at scales inaccessible by conventional CMB probes. In this talk, I will review some of the compelling inflationary scenarios able to trigger the formation of such objects in the post-inflationary universe by enhancing the amplitude of the primordial scalar perturbations. In this context, I will discuss single and multi-field realizations with a focus on theoretical aspects of model building, discussing common themes shared among models in conjunction with their distinctive phenomenological implications in the form of a primordial GW background.

Zoom Link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/98857635213?pwd=UGZoMXY4TnJBSmc1RlUvbGprSWlRQT09

We investigate the evolution of quantum information under Pauli measurement circuits. We focus on the case of one- and two-dimensional systems, which are relevant to the recently introduced Floquet topological codes. We define local reversibility in context of measurement circuits, which allows us to treat finite depth measurement circuits on a similar footing to finite depth unitary circuits. In contrast to the unitary case, a finite depth locally reversible measurement sequence can implement a translation in one dimension. A locally reversible measurement sequence in two dimensions may also induce a flow of logical information along the boundary. We introduce "measurement quantum cellular automata" which unifies these ideas and define an index in one dimension to characterize the flow of logical operators. We find a Z_2 bulk invariant for Floquet topological codes which indicates an obstruction to having a trivial boundary. We prove that the Hastings-Haah honeycomb code belong to a class with such obstruction, which means that any boundary must have either non-local dynamics, period doubled, or admits boundary flow of quantum information.

Zoom Link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/96083249406?pwd=MnhYbTEyU05ybVdyUlE3UGZrdEhPdz09

The session is addressed to educating startups, SMEs, and researchers to acquire fundamental knowledge on IP within the quantum computing domain. This introductory session includes real-world examples to explain the patent process with a view to commercialization of quantum computing projects. Other forms of IP are also covered. The session is facilitated by Benjamin Mak and Marco Clementoni of Ridout & Maybee LLP. 

Zoom Link: TBD