Add to Calendar 2025-05-29T11:00:00 2025-05-29T12:00:00 Condensed matter theory in the quantum information era Event Information: Abstract: The rapid development of new experimental platforms enables the study of quantum many-body systems using both existing materials and synthetic matter. This progress has spurred the search for novel phenomena in regimes beyond traditional near-equilibrium settings, two aspects of which will be explored in this talk.  We will first discover that kinetic constraints and symmetries can be utilized to halt quantum thermalization, and to even shield a system from decohering.  These striking outcomes emerge via the mechanism of Hilbert space fragmentation--a phenomenon since realized experimentally in various platforms. We will then explore the physics of many-body ground states and show how even “weak” measurements can tame the rigidly universal properties emerging at quantum critical points.  Drawing inspiration from quantum information, this discovery informs the design of optimally resilient teleportation protocols that transfer critical wavefunctions between distant labs.  Finally, we will discuss open questions and related ideas in the field. Bio: I am currently a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where I hold a Burke Institute Prize Fellowship. I completed undergraduate degrees in both Physics and Mathematics in Zaragoza, Spain. After finishing a master's program in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics in Munich---with a thesis on the use of variational methods for lattice gauge theories at the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics---I pursued a PhD at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) under the supervision of Prof. Pollmann, supported by a "la Caixa" fellowship. My doctoral research led to the discovery of Hilbert space fragmentation, an ergodicity-breaking mechanism that deepens our understanding of the role of symmetries in the dynamics of many-body systems. As a postdoctoral fellow at Caltech, I have developed a research program focused on various aspects of quantum many-body physics in the presence of measurements and decoherence---a relevant area to emerging quantum technologies. My recent work includes the demonstration and quantification of entanglement generation in open (mixed-state) systems, the characterization of non-Abelian topological order under decoherence, and the identification of novel phenomena induced by quantum measurements.  Learn More: About Pablo: https://www.pma.caltech.edu/people/pablo-sala  Event Location: HENN 318

Add to Calendar 2025-06-02T11:00:00 2025-06-02T12:00:00 A many-body physics perspective on quantum error correction Event Information: Abstract:  Quantum computers hold transformative promise for both scientific and real-world applications, but their practical operation is often hindered by errors and decoherence. In this talk, I will discuss how the co-design of quantum hardware and algorithms creates new opportunities with today’s non-fault-tolerant devices. First, focusing on one such computational platform—neutral atom arrays—I will explore the design of a topological qubit and demonstrate how it enables robust quantum information processing. Then, inspired by recent advances in many-body quantum dynamics, I will examine certain fundamentally out-of-equilibrium dynamical critical phenomena in quantum and classical systems. I will show how these phenomena can be harnessed for quantum state preparation in both analog systems and quantum circuits incorporating measurement and feedback, offering a scalable route to passive quantum error correction.Bio:  Rhine Samajdar is a Princeton Quantum Initiative Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Physics and PCTS at Princeton University. His research interests lie at the interface of theoretical quantum information science, condensed matter physics, and atomic, molecular, and optical physics. Prior to joining Princeton, he obtained his PhD in Physics from Harvard University in 2022 working with Subir Sachdev. His work has demonstrated how quantum computation can be used to realize, probe, and control novel phases of quantum matter, providing new insights into topological architectures, quantum algorithms, and nonequilibrium dynamics. Learn More: About Rhine's research: https://pcts.princeton.edu/people/rhine-samajdar    Event Location: HENN 318