Quantum Discord and the Power of One Qubit
Physical Review Letters 100, 050502 (2008)
Research Area 01
Quantum Information & Computation
Algorithms, error correction, complexity, thermodynamics, and simulation at the frontier of quantum computing.
Area 01
Overview
Quantum Information & Computation sits at the intersection of physics, mathematics, and computer science. CQuIC researchers develop the theoretical and algorithmic foundations that underpin next-generation quantum computers, push the boundaries of what is computationally possible with quantum hardware, and explore how quantum mechanics reshapes our understanding of information, complexity, and thermodynamics.
Why It Matters
Quantum computers promise exponential speedups for problems in cryptography, materials simulation, optimisation, and machine learning. Achieving that promise requires advances in error correction, fault-tolerant architectures, and a rigorous theory of quantum resources. CQuIC work directly addresses these challenges.
Interdisciplinary Reach
The group draws on quantum mechanics, information theory, computational complexity, statistical mechanics, and machine learning. Collaborations span UNM Physics & Astronomy, Electrical & Computer Engineering, and partner institutions worldwide.
What We Study
Research Topics
Active research directions within Quantum Information & Computation at CQuIC.
Quantum Information Theory
Fundamental limits of quantum communication and computation: entropy, channel capacity, entanglement measures, quantum Shannon theory, and resource theories. CQuIC researchers rigorously characterise which quantum resources provide genuine advantages.
Quantum Algorithms
Design and analysis of quantum algorithms that outperform their classical counterparts — from search and factoring to simulation of quantum systems. Research includes variational algorithms (VQE, QAOA) and hybrid classical–quantum approaches.
Fault-Tolerance & Error Correction
Quantum error-correcting codes (stabiliser, topological, LDPC), fault-tolerant gate sets, and threshold theorems. Novel work uses syndrome measurements simultaneously for error correction and in-situ device characterisation via machine learning.
Computational Complexity
Quantum complexity classes (BQP, QMA, QCMA), hardness proofs, and quantum-classical separations. Understanding the precise power of quantum computation guides where to invest algorithmic effort.
Quantum Thermodynamics
Thermodynamic laws at the quantum scale: work extraction, heat engines, fluctuation theorems, and the role of coherence and correlations as thermodynamic resources. Research connects quantum information theory to statistical mechanics.
Quantum Simulation
Using quantum hardware to simulate strongly-correlated materials, quantum chemistry, and lattice gauge theories — problems intractable for classical computers. Includes algorithm design, error mitigation strategies, and benchmarking protocols.
Highlight
Research Snapshot
Error Correction Meets Machine Learning
Syndrome measurements in quantum error correction can be used not only to detect and correct errors, but also for estimation of the parameters of an error channel and for hypothesis testing to distinguish error channels. Together with machine learning and control algorithms, syndrome measurements allow for in-situ characterisation of quantum devices with error correction running simultaneously — a key step towards scalable, self-calibrating quantum computers.
Adiabatic Quantum Computing
CQuIC work on adiabatic quantum optimisation (Albash group) rigorously analyses the performance and limitations of quantum annealers such as D-Wave processors, connecting their behaviour to open quantum systems theory and developing benchmarks that distinguish quantum from classical thermal effects.
Resource Theories & Quantum Advantage
The Marvian group develops resource theories of coherence, asymmetry, and thermodynamics, identifying which quantum resources are strictly necessary for a computational advantage — and under what noise models those advantages survive.
Faculty Labs
Research Groups
CQuIC faculty leading work in Quantum Information & Computation.
Talitha Albash
Physics & Astronomy
Quantum algorithms, adiabatic quantum computing, open quantum systems
Susan R. Atlas
Physics & Astronomy
Quantum simulations, quantum thermodynamics, complex molecular systems
Milad Marvian
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Quantum thermodynamics, resource theories, computational complexity, quantum algorithms
Akimasa Miyake
Physics & Astronomy
Quantum computation, complexity theory, measurement-based QC, many-body physics
Research Output
Selected Publications
Representative publications in Quantum Information & Computation from CQuIC researchers.
See the full CQuIC Publications page, or browse
arXiv
for all preprints.
Explore the other research areas at CQuIC
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