Candidacy Talk: Jon Nelson

Date
Wed, Dec 17, 2025 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Location
ATL 3100A and Virtual Via Zoom: https://umd.zoom.us/j/3080179084

Description

Title:  Distinguishing classical and quantum systems through the computational lens
Speaker:  Jon Nelson (QuICS)
Date & Time:  December 17, 2025, 2:00pm
Where to Attend:  ATL 3100A and Virtual Via Zoom: https://umd.zoom.us/j/3080179084

 A fundamental question in the study of quantum systems is to pin down which physical settings are capable of exhibiting undeniably quantum features meaning that they cannot be repli- cated by a classical system. This gives insight into the nature of the physics at play, e.g. this can indicate whether the behavior is governed by quantum properties such as long-range entangle- ment or merely classical properties such as correlation. From the computational perspective, this question addresses which systems can exhibit quantum advantage which means that a quantum computer is required in order to model the system. Understanding which computational problems truly require a quantum computer is crucial, especially as we invest substantial resources into building these devices. I am interested in addressing this question for both dynamic systems such as noisy quantum circuits and static systems such as low-energy states of Hamiltonians.

*We strongly encourage attendees to use their full name (and if possible, their UMD credentials) to join the zoom session.*