Complexity and quantum science appear at first to be two fields that bear little relation. One deals with the science of macroscopic reality – seeking the understand and predict the behavior of large complex systems in the everyday world. Quantum theory, on the other hand, deals with particles at the microscopic level, and is usually considered limited to the domain of individual photons and atoms. Yet, different as they appear, there is growing evidence that the science of very small may help us better understand that of the very large. 

Here, I begin with a pedagogical introduction of quantum information science, which seeks to understand the remarkable counter-intuitive properties of data at the quantum scale. I outline how these properties can be harnessed to perform operational tasks that would otherwise be considered either impractical or impossible. 

I then outline recent advances showing that such quantum effect can also fundamentally change what we consider in nature of be complex. I demonstrate how predicting the future behavior of certain phenomena may require tracking immense amounts of observation statistical classically, and yet remarkable little when quantum technologies are involved. Thus, existing notions of structure, complexity, may change drastically in the advent of quantum technology.

Speaker: Dr Gu Mile
Date: 11 January 2019 (Fri)
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
Poster: Click here