Event Calendar

05/09/2025

We were thrilled to host Dr. William Munizzi from the Narang Lab (UCLA/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) for an insightful talk on entanglement and magic in holography. Dr. Munizzi explored how holographic principles from high-energy physics shed light on entanglement structures in quantum systems and quantum error correction codes, bridging advanced theory with potential applications in quantum information science. The talk was followed by a lively social gathering, where researchers and students from UCLA and Caltech connected over refreshments and discussions.

05/07/2025

We were delighted to host Judith Olson from HRL Laboratories for an insightful session on preparing for life after school. Judith shared valuable perspectives to help students confidently approach their post-college journey, whether they plan to enter the workforce or pursue advanced degrees.

04/10/2025

The talk by Mu Niu, a 4th year physics undergrad, introduced the Density Matrix Renormalization Group (DMRG) method and its use in identifying the critical point of Kitaev Chain. The event will began with an overview of topological quantum computation, followed by a discussion of tensor networks and DMRG, and Jordan-Wigner transformation. The talk aims to introduce students to DMRG and demonstrate its applications in quantum many-body physics.

04/04/2025

For our inaugural event, we were honored to host Prof. John Preskill, the Richard P. Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics at Caltech and Director of the Institute for Quantum Information and Matter. A pioneer in quantum error correction and quantum supremacy, Prof. Preskill shared insights into the current state of quantum development, potential applications of quantum computing, and his vision for the future of the field. The talk was followed by a social panel connecting students and researchers from UCLA and Caltech.

01/24/2025

“Quantum Computational Advantages in Optimization” We thank Prof. Leo Zhou’s comprehensive and in-depth talk about quantum optimization and simulation. He included many recent exciting breakthroughs made by him and his collaborators.

11/22/2024

We thank Prof. Luic Anderegg at USC for an insightful talk on laser-cooled molecules for quantum science and fundamental physics. The discussion covered advancements in optical tweezer arrays for controlling molecular qubits, dipolar interactions, and quantum-state-specific collisions, highlighting their potential for quantum computing and precision tests of fundamental physics.

11/15/2024

We thank Prof. Andrei Faraon for an engaging talk on the role of rare-earth ions in quantum science and technology. He discussed how single and ensemble rare-earth ions in solid-state materials serve as optically addressable spin qubits, enabling quantum networking, storage, and processing. The talk covered applications in quantum transduction, entanglement, and many-body physics, highlighting research on ytterbium 171 in yttrium orthovanadate.

11/08/2024

We were thrilled to host Dr. Makan Mohageg for a talk on the future of space-based quantum networking. He explored its transition from research to real-world applications, highlighting key use cases: secure communications, a global quantum internet, and the interplay of quantum mechanics and general relativity. Dr. Mohageg discussed two upcoming missions—Boeing’s Q4S for quantum entanglement-swapping in space and the SEAQUE mission for integrated-optical quantum systems—shedding light on the global landscape and the strategic role of US-led initiatives.

10/10/2024

“Quantum Simulation meets Machine Learning”

We thank Prof. Di Luo for going in depth on his research at the intersection of Quantum Information and Artificial intelligence following his recent appointment as a full professor at UCLA.

10/11/2024

This talk explored how generative models infused with physics and symmetries can tackle the challenges of simulating high-dimensional quantum systems. The discussion highlighted applications in high-energy physics, quantum materials, and quantum computation. Additionally, the speaker presented recent advancements in physics-inspired machine learning and robotics, including generative models based on physical processes, neural network solvers for PDEs inspired by quantum principles, and optimizing multi-legged robots’ locomotion using many-body physics theory.

10/04/2024

IBM Quantum and UCLA CQSE hosted a joint quantum computing workshop open to all levels, from novices to advanced researchers. The event featured expert-led presentations, interactive discussions, and hands-on workshops covering topics like quantum error correction, Qiskit tools, and quantum education. Key speakers included Luke Govia, Gavin Jones, Jason Cong, and Prineha Narang, who discussed IBM’s progress in quantum systems and UCLA’s quantum research initiatives. The workshop offered two specialized tracks: an advanced user session focused on teaching and research, and a beginner-friendly workshop introducing fundamental quantum concepts through hands-on Qiskit exercises. The event concluded with a crash course on Qiskit & Runtime Primitives, followed by an applied session on quantum chemistry simulations. Held in Engineering VI from 10 AM to 3 PM, the workshop provided an engaging learning experience for students, faculty, and researchers, with lunch included.

06/03/2024

Kate Marshall from IBM delivered a talk on Variational Quantum Algorithms (VQAs) and their applications in chemistry, AI, and condensed matter physics. She discussed how Qiskit Runtime enables efficient benchmarking, testing, and execution of VQAs on real IBM Quantum computers. The talk provided insights into leveraging near-term quantum computing alongside classical techniques to solve complex computational problems.

05/29/2024

Prof. David Leibrandt described a new experimental toolbox for quantum control of molecular ions. The toolbox involves co-trapping a single molecular ion with an atomic "logic" ion, which facilitates sympathetic laser cooling and quantum-logic readout. As a demonstration, he reported the successful quantum-logic pure state preparation and detection of a single CaH+ molecule using Ca+ as the logic ion. Leibrandt further outlined plans to expand these techniques to explore rotational and vibrational transitions in diverse molecular ions, with applications in quantum sensing and fundamental symmetry violation research.

04/26/2024

Dr. Ilon Joseph at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) presented a Special Seminar on "Quantum Computing for Fusion Energy Science Applications." He discussed the potential of quantum computing to enhance computational power in various Fusion Energy Science (FES) areas. Dr. Joseph reviewed his team's work on developing and extending quantum algorithms for FES-relevant calculations, including simulating nonlinear and non-Hamiltonian dynamics, performing eigenvalue estimation, simulating nonlinear wave-wave interactions, and exploring chaotic dynamics. He also shared results from implementing toy models of these algorithms on current quantum hardware, demonstrating the fidelity of emerging quantum capabilities and highlighting the impact of noise models.