Abstract

Quantum information theory attracts a lot of attention because it promises radically new technology. The most famous of these is perhaps quantum computing. Many groups around the world are working on building the first large-scale quantum computer, and it is likely that 2018 will be the year in which a quantum computational advantage will be convincingly demonstrated for the first time.

Yet the mere fact that the laws of physics allow quantum computers to exist, even in principle, has profound implications for how matter behaves – even if no one ever built a quantum computer.

The fact that computer science has deep implications for fundamental physics is, for me, one of the most exciting aspects of the field. How can computers that no one has built yet possibly tell us anything about the behaviour of real matter? You’ll have to come to the talk to find out!