Abstract:

First generation of quantum computing devices are now becoming available. A typical problem they address is the computation of the ground state of classic and/or quantum systems, for instance because they encode the solution to a relevant optimisation problem or are of scientific interest. In the talk, we discuss how techniques based on semi-definite programming can be used to benchmark the quality of the results produced by these quantum devices.

Bio:

Antonio Acín is an ICREA Research Professor at ICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences. He has a degree in Physics from the Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and in Telecommunication Engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. He got his PhD in Theoretical Physics in 2001 from the UB. After a post-doctoral stay in Geneva, he joined ICFO in 2003. At ICFO, Acín leads the Quantum Information Theory group. The group activities focus on quantum information theory and quantum communication, with an emphasis on quantum cryptography, but also cover other fields such as quantum optics, many-body physics, quantum thermodynamics, of the foundations of quantum physics. Acín has published more than 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals and given more than 150 invited talks at international events. His research has been awarded with 4 grants from the European Research Council: 1 Starting, 1 Proof of Concept, 1 Consolidator and 1 Advanced Grant, the latter starting in 2020. He also received an AXA Chair in Quantum Information Science in 2016.