Events

Our group holds regular meetings and events covering a wide range of topics in modern quantum sciences. This includes both fundamental, mathematical, and practical aspects.

These meetings and events offer a point of contact for everyone devoted to quantum research, and the participation of early career researchers is particularly encouraged.

Seminars

Giulia Rubino (University of Bristol) - Quantum superposition of thermodynamic evolutions with opposing time’s arrows

Microscopic physical laws are time-symmetric, hence, a priori there exists no preferential temporal direction. However, the second law of thermodynamics allows one to associate the “forward” temporal direction to a positive variation of the total entropy produced in a thermodynamic process, and a negative variation with its “time-reversal” counterpart. This definition of a temporal axis is normally considered to apply in both classical and quantum contexts. Yet, quantum physics admits also superpositions between forward and time-reversal processes, whereby the thermodynamic arrow of time becomes quantum-mechanically undefined. In this talk, I will demonstrate that a definite thermodynamic time’s arrow can be restored by a quantum measurement of entropy production, which effectively projects such superpositions onto the forward (time-reversal) time-direction when large positive (negative) values are measured. Furthermore, for small values (of the order of plus or minus one), the amplitudes of forward and time-reversal processes can interfere, giving rise to entropy-production distributions featuring a more or less reversible process than either of the two components individually, or any classical mixture thereof.

What is Nonclassical about Quantum Interference?

In this talk, Matthew Leifer described an unmysterious toy-model for a Mach-Zehnder interferometer that can reproduce those aspects of quantum interference that have been Traditionally Regarded As Problematic (TRAP). Moving beyond the TRAP, Matt showed that more subtle aspects of quantum interference, such as wave particle duality relations and Zeno-based interaction-free measurement, cannot be reproduced in this way, as they require a form of nonclassicality called contextuality.

Coupling single electrons spins to a superconducting flux qubit

In this talk, Michael presented recent experiments where his team managed to strongly couple individual spins to a superconducting circuit.

A new 2D platform for quantum technology: A quantum coherent spin in hexagonal boron nitride that operates at ambient conditions

In this talk Hannah Stern presented recent results that reveal a new material platform for quantum optical technologies. This platform consists of a single electronic spin, embedded in a two-dimensional material that can be operated via light at room temperature.

Page-curve-like entanglement dynamics in open quantum systems

On 9 May 2024, Jonas Glatthard presented a general argument as to why a Page-curve-like entanglement dynamics should be expected to hold generally for system-plus-bath models at small coupling and low temperatures, when the system is initialized in a pure state far from equilibrium.

Long-range quantum state transfer in semiconductor quantum dots arrays

On 29 February 2024, Gloria Platero discussed protocols for high-fidelity spin hole transfer in quantum dot chains, as well as their potential for information distribution and leveraging protected topological edge states for efficient transfer in systems with non-trivial topology.

The power of data science and optics in quantum mechanics

On 22 February 2024, Micheline Soley presented new approaches to the simulation of molecular systems using tensor networks and the high degree of entanglement possible on quantum computers. She further discussed the existence of long-sought-after quantum mechanical parity-time reversal (PT) symmetry behavior in standard ultracold-atom scattering experiments, paving the way for powerful quantum technologies.

A space Odyssey… From the origins of life to disease, what might quantum mechanics and thermodynamics tell us?

On 18 January 2024, Alistair Nunn discussed how insights from thermodynamics and quantum mechanics could elucidate fundamental questions about life and health, such as the origins of life and the impact of space exploration on human health.

Stochastic Schrödinger dynamics and rare events: simulating quantum transitions with path & interface sampling

On 13 November 2023, Robson Christie presented an approach to studying rare transitions in Markovian open quantum systems driven by Gaussian noise utilising a probability measure on the space of quantum trajectories and transition path sampling methods, which are applicable to any systems described by stochastic Schrödinger equations.

Classical analogues of quantum systems

Giovanni Manfredi's talk, held on 17 February 2022, outlined a novel method to emulate quantum evolutions using analogue systems that are purely classical. The classical analogue is made out of a collection of Brownian micro-particles optically trapped by a laser beam and immersed in a thermal bath.

Quantum Brownian motion for magnets

Theoretical physicist and world expert in the exciting new fields of quantum information theory and quantum thermodynamics, Janet Anders, was the speaker for the quantum Brownian motion for magnets talk on 24 November 2021. It discussed how a system-bath Hamiltonian, similar to the Caldeira-Leggett and spin-boson models, can be used to derive a general spin dynamics equation.

Strong determinism

The strong determinism talk on 20 October 2021 outlined ideas about the nature of determinism in science. Lead by philosopher of physics, Eddy Chen from UC San Diego, who is a named collaborator on our new Templeton grant on the arrow of time.

In praise of natural philosophy – a synthesis of physics and metaphysics

This in praise of natural philosophy talk, held by Nicholas Maxwell on Wednesday 15 September 2021, discussed the overwhelming case for conceiving, and doing, physics within the framework of aim-oriented empiricism – and its implications for discovery, for quantum theory, for the role of metaphysics and philosophy of physics within physics.

The physics of can and can’t

The physics of can and can’t talk on 14 July 2021 was run by Chiara Marletto, where they described the foundations of a programme to extend the quantum theory of computation beyond quantum theory itself, based on the recently proposed constructor theory.

The relational interpretation of quantum mechanics

We held an intuitive and compelling interpretation of quantum mechanics talk from one of the world’s best-known figures in theoretical physics, Carlo Rovelli, on Wednesday 16 December 2020.

Quantum reality: The interpretations of quantum mechanics and the purpose of science

A non-technical introductory overview of the meaning of quantum mechanics from the perspective of the philosophy of science talk took place on Wednesday 9 December 2020 lead by freelance science writer Jim Baggott.

Quantum geometry and space-time

On Wednesday 18 November 2020, we held a seminar with an overview of geometric quantum mechanics plus a more recent discovery on certain quantum-like structures in classical relativity, held by Professor Dorje Brody.

Is there a physical meaning for the complex harmonic oscillator? Circles theory and quantum mechanics

A seminar on a project that goes back 30 years trying to find a deeper interpretation of the quantum mechanical wave function was held on Wednesday 4 November with speaker Dr Muhammed Sanduk.

The de Broglie-Bohm approach to quantum theory: Particles and fields

The seminar on the Bohmian interpretation of quantum mechanics was given by Portsmouth University theoretical physicist and David Bohm’s old PhD student, Chris Dewdney on Wednesday 21 October.

Mad-dog everettianism

On Wednesday 7 October we held a seminar that discussed the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. It was led by Caltech physicist, Sean Carroll, whose latest book Something Deeply Hidden, is about this very subject.