Department of Physics & Astronomy
University of New Mexico

CQuIC Seminars

Quantum Annealing: Challenges and Prospects

Presented by Tameem Albash, University of Southern California

Quantum annealing was originally envisioned as a classical optimization algorithm. The algorithm utilizes simulated quantum fluctuations to find the ground state of a classical Hamiltonian, which encodes the solution to the optimization problem. Quantum annealing burgeoned when it was realized that a physical implementation of the algorithm is a form of analog quantum computation. Since the availability of the first commercial quantum annealing devices in 2011, there has been palpable excitement about how close we are to the age of quantum computing. The Information Sciences Institute is at the forefront of this effort, and I will present our work towards achieving this elusive objective. Our work has identified and characterized important theoretical and technological obstacles for quantum annealing, and I will present our research directions to overcome these obstacles within the national effort (IARPA's Quantum Enhanced Optimization program) to design the next generation of quantum annealing devices.

3:30 pm, Thursday, February 1, 2018
PAIS-2540, PAIS

Disability NoticeIndividuals with disabilities who need an auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in P&A events should contact the Physics Department (phone: 505-277-2616, email: physics@unm.edu) well in advance to ensure your needs are accomodated. Event handouts can be provided in alternative accessible formats upon request. Please contact the Physics front office if you need written information in an alternative format.

A schedule of talks within the Department of Physics and Astronomy is available on the P&A web site at http://physics.unm.edu/pandaweb/events/index.php