Department of Physics & Astronomy
University of New Mexico

CQuIC Seminars

Quantum annealing: a quantum algorithm for optimization

Presented by Elizabeth Crosson, California Institute of Technology

Can quantum computers solve optimization problems much more quickly than classical computers? One piece of evidence for this proposition is the fact that Quantum Annealing (QA) can use tunneling to find the minimum of some functions exponentially more quickly than classical thermal annealing. Despite this encouraging result, existing QA devices do not yet harness the full power of quantum computing, and in this talk I'll describe a classical algorithm called simulated quantum annealing that provides evidence against the prospect of an exponential speedup using tunneling. Finally, I'll discuss some recent theoretical contributions to the ongoing effort to build QA devices that evade the possibility of these efficient classical simulations.

3:30 pm, Tuesday, February 6, 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