Title: Approximating Topological Invariants on a Quantum Computer

Speaker: Stephen Jordan, Institute for Quantum Information, Caltech

Date/Time: Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 10:00 – 11:00 am        

Location: CSRI Building, Room 90 (Sandia NM)

Brief Abstract: Since Peter Shor's 1994 discovery of a fast quantum algorithm for factoring integers, much effort has focused on the search for additional quantum algorithms. This has turned out to be a very difficult task. Today only a few dozen such quantum algorithms are known. Recently, there has been rapid progress in discovering quantum algorithms to estimate topological invariants. In this talk I will discuss my work on finding quantum algorithms for topological invariants, the physical heuristics that led to these discoveries, and the implications of these heuristics for future work. No prior knowledge of quantum algorithms or topological invariants will be assumed.

CSRI POC: Danny Rintoul (505) 844-9592