6:30pm - 8:30pm BST
Wednesday 6 May 2026
Surrey Speaks Quantum: Knots, World Lines and Quantum Computation
Join us for Surrey Speaks Quantum, a captivating lecture series exploring the famously puzzling nature of quantum physics. In celebration of the 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.
In our final lecture in the series, Steve Simon, theoretical Professor of Physics at Oxford University, will deliver his lecture entitled 'Knots, World Lines and Quantum Computation'.
Free
University of Surrey
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 7XH
Advance booking is required.
Lecture Overview
The world is racing to develop more and more powerful quantum computers. In this race, a new concept, "quantum topology", has appeared --- linking ideas from the mathematical theory of knots to quantum computation. Professor Simon will elucidate this connection and explain how it provides a powerful new way to understand and engineer the quantum world.
About the speaker
Steven H. Simon is an American theoretical physics professor at Oxford University and tutorial fellow of Somerville College, Oxford. Between 2000 and 2009 he was the director of theoretical physics research at Bell Laboratories. He is known for his work on Topological Phases of Matter, Topological Quantum Computing, and Fractional Quantum Hall Effect.