Applied Physics/Physics Colloquium: Dmitry Abanin - "Quantum advantage and computational complexity of many-body systems"

Abstract: Quantum processors and simulators now probe the dynamics of hundreds of quantum constituents in regimes that challenge classical algorithms. These advances open unprecedented opportunities to explore quantum matter while raising a fundamental question: when do quantum simulations of many-body systems offer a meaningful computational advantage over classical methods? In this colloquium, I will describe recent experiments using superconducting analog and digital processors to prepare correlated low-energy states and probe their interacting quasiparticles. I will then discuss theoretical insights into the complexity of simulating many-body dynamics, showing how they inspire new classical algorithms while guiding the future applications of quantum processors.

Dmitry Abanin is Professor of Physics who joined the Princeton faculty in August of 2023. He received his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2008. His scientific interests and areas of study include quantum simulation, quantum information and computing, condensed matter physics, and efficient classical algorithms for quantum systems. He has published over ninety peer-reviewed papers and has received numerous awards, including the recent Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher Award in 2023 and the ERC Consolidator Grant in 2020. He is currently on the graduate admissions committee for the new graduate program in Quantum Science and Engineering, which is a joint collaboration between the Physics and Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Departments.