Modeling and Simulation Group Meeting

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Hardware for quantum computing

Speaker: Georg Stadler and Antoine Cerfon, Courant

Location: Warren Weaver Hall 517

Date: Thursday, November 18, 2021, 12:30 p.m.

Synopsis:

Georg Stadler will give an introduction to quantum computers and compare them with classical computers. Georg will sketch how quantum computers are currently built, and why they hold promise for certain algorithms. Georg will also discuss quantum computer hardware, i.e., how to manipulate qubits (the quantum computer analogue of bits) using lasers, why this currently limits the largest quantum computer to about 100 qubits and how this is an interesting mathematical problem.

Antoine will then tell us about Paul traps. Ion crystals trapped in Paul traps are among the most promising systems for quantum computing with a large number of qubits. Antoine will describe the physical principle of Paul traps, the formation of ion crystals in these traps, and issues regarding their stability. This presentation will rely entirely on classical mechanics, not requiring much more than Newton's law.