Quantum Colloquium – Prof. Xie Chen
Wednesday, May 1, 1:00pm
Jefferson 250
Xie Chen, Caltech
“Quantum circuit as a lens into quantum phases and phase transitions”
Quantum systems host fascinating phases like superconductivity, quantum Hall, topological
order, etc. that have no classical counterpart. Understanding what quantum phases exist
and how phase transitions happen between them is the ultimate goal of condensed matter.
But this is notoriously hard, especially in systems with strong interactions. We find that
the Quantum Circuit, a tool in quantum computation, provides surprisingly useful insight
into the many-body entanglement structure of quantum wavefunctions and correspondingly the
structure of the quantum phase diagram. In this talk, we start by reviewing how a decade
ago defining gapped quantum phases using finite-depth quantum circuits led us to the
systematic construction and classification of Symmetry Protected Topological Phases.
Recently, we made another breakthrough by realizing that the transition between different
gapped phases can be achieved with sequential quantum circuits. This opens the door to the
systematic study of defects in quantum systems, their condensation, and the induced phase
transitions in strongly interacting systems.
Guest presentation will begin promptly at 1:00 PM
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