[QIP-Sem] Two talks, Monday and Wednesday, in Quantum Information Seminar

[Peter Shor]

Monday, 5/14, 4pm
Quantum Information Processing Seminar 
"Efficient quantum algorithms for an additive approximation of the Tutte 
 polynomial and the q-state Potts model."
Speaker: Itai Arad (Hebrew University, Jerusalem)
Host: Peter Shor
Location: CUA conference room, 26-214

Wednesday 5/16, 4pm 
Special Quantum Information Processing Seminar 
"Physical and information-theoretic aspects of generalized entanglement"
Speaker: Lorenza Viola (Dartmouth)
Host: Peter Shor
Location: CUA conference room, 26-214



Abstract for Arad's talk:  
I will present an efficient quantum algorithm for an additive 
approximation of the famous Tutte polynomial of any planar graph at 
any point. The Tutte polynomial captures an extremely wide range of 
interesting combinatorial properties of graphs, including the partition 
function of the q-state Potts model. This provides a new class of 
quantum complete problems.
     Our methods generalize the recent AJL algorithm for the 
approximation of the Jones polynomial; instead of using unitary 
representations, we allow non-unitary, which seems counter intuitive 
in the quantum world. Significant contribution of this is a proof 
that non-unitary operators can be used for universal quantum 
computation.

Abstract for Viola's talk:
Generalized entanglement has recently emerged as a unifying framework 
capable of overcoming the limitations of standard subsystem-based 
entanglement and of bridging to various physical and information-theoretic 
aspects of "complexity". After reviewing the essential background 
underlying the generalized entanglement notion, I will focus on 
highlighting applications where the latter genuinely expands conventional 
entanglement settings -- including indecomposable quantum systems, 
indistinguishable fermions, and chaotic quantum systems. I will then turn 
the attention to address "classicality" properties of generalized 
un-entangled states -- by showing how, under appropriate assumptions, they 
both minimize uncertainty as quantified by the quantum Fisher information 
and emerge as "pointer states" under decoherence.


Relevant URL(S): http://qis.mit.edu/seminars.php

For more information please contact: Peter Shor, 3-4362, 
shor at math.mit.edu