Mathematical Problems in Topological Quantum Computation
Eric Rowell, Texas A&M University
April 5, 2019, Physics Research Building Rm. 1080, 2:00-3:00 PM
Two-dimensional topological states of matter offer a route to quantum computation that would be topologically protected against the nemesis of the quantum circuit model: decoherence. In this talk I will give a mathematicians’ perspective on some of the advantages and challenges of this model, focusing on the interplay of condensed matter physics, representation theory, low-dimensional topology and category theory. We will discover some compelling mathematical questions inspired by foundational problems in topological information theory along the way, and I will present a few results and ongoing projects with collaborators.