Current graduate students

Salil Bedkihal, Exeter

Understanding the interplay of non-equilibrium effects, dissipation and many body interactions is a fundamental challenge in condensed matter physics. In this work, as a case study, we focus on the transient dynamics and the steady state characteristics of the double-dot Aharonov-Bohm (AB) interferometer subjected to a voltage and/or temperature bias. We first consider an exactly solvable case, the noninteracting double-dot AB interferometer.

Interested in learning more about the Transformative Quantum Technologies (TQT) initiative? Attend the TQT information session from 1:00 – 3:00 PM in the RAC 2 Quiet Labs foyer. Please join us to learn about TQT’s program opportunities, latest research developments and future directions.

 Cooling close to absolute zero temperature: a recipe for discoveries

Wolfgang Ketterle, 2001 Nobel Laureate

Wolfgang Ketterle - MIT

The properties of ultracold atoms can be profoundly modified with the help of laser beams. They can modify the wavefunction of neutral atoms in such a way that they show behavior of charged particles, e.g. electrons in high magnetic fields. In this way, synthetic magnetic fields and spin-orbit coupling have been realized, and a supersolid phase has been observed. A supersolid is superfluid and breaks translational symmetry, i.e. it has shape.

Tian Zhang, University of Oxford

In ordinary, non-relativistic quantum theory, especially in quantum information, space and time are treated differently. For example, time is a parameter rather than an operator; states are defined across the whole space but only at one time, and then evolve under the prescribed dynamics. These go against our intuition from relativity. Thus, space-time density matrices have been introduced and here we discuss one of these formulations called pseudo-density matrix (PDM) which treats space and time indiscriminately.

Matthew Amy, PhD candidate
David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science

IQC Colloquium - Layla Hormozi, IQC

We study the role of Hamiltonian complexity in the performance of quantum annealers. It is well-known that non-stoquastic Hamiltonians are more complex than stoquastic Hamiltonians and universal adiabatic quantum computing is possible when they are employed. Here we ask whether utilizing non-stoquastic Hamiltonians in quantum annealers can lead to a better performance in solving optimization problems.

Security Proof for Discrete-Modulated Continuous Variable Quantum Key Distribution

Speaker: Twesh Upadhyaya

Charles W. Thiel​, Montana State University

Colloquium

Entanglement in single-shot quantum channel discrimination

PhD candidate: Daniel Puzzuoli
Supervisor: John Watrous

Thesis available from MGO - mgo@uwaterloo.ca