INFRACHIP’s Post

On February 1, I will deliver a plenary talk at MIT's annual LIDS student conference: https://lnkd.in/gnNCEzJm Title: Exact solutions for the fundamental limits of communication, discrimination, and estimation of bosonic dephasing channels   Abstract: Dephasing is a prominent noise mechanism that afflicts quantum information carriers, and it is one of the main challenges towards realizing useful quantum computation, communication, and sensing. In the case of bosonic systems, central to many applications, bosonic dephasing channels (BDCs) form a key class of non-Gaussian channels modeling noise affecting superconducting circuits or fiber-optic communication channels. Here we consider communication, discrimination, and estimation of BDCs, when using general strategies for these tasks as allowed by quantum mechanics. We provide an exact formula for the quantum, private, two-way assisted quantum, and secret-key agreement capacities of all BDCs, proving that they are all equal to the relative entropy of the distribution underlying the channel to the uniform distribution. For discrimination and estimation tasks, we reduce difficult quantum problems to simple classical ones based on the probability densities defining the BDCs. We present upper bounds on the performance of various distinguishability and estimation tasks and show that they are also achievable. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a non-Gaussian bosonic channel for which there are exact solutions for all of these tasks. Joint work with Zixin Huang (Macquarie University) and Ludovico Lami (University of Amsterdam).

2023 saw three PhD students graduate from my group: Wouter Scharpach, Onur Çaylak, and Gianluca Tirimbo' (cover pictures below). They worked on a range of topics related to quantum electronic structure models, from theoretical analysis, via coupled quantum-classical models with many-body Green's Functions, to Machine Learning. In two weeks from today, we start the 2024 series of PhD defenses with Vivek Sundaram, who worked on yet more Multiscale Modeling, Implementation & Application to Excitons in Polymer-Fullerene Morphologies.

Shift7.Studio Year 1 Highlight #3: We worked with our friends at BW Architects to create posters honoring Breakthrough Prize laureates in fundamental physics, life sciences, and mathematics. We envisioning each of their discoveries as a movie, and designed its poster. The strategy was to frame each complex and advanced scientific discovery as a story that tells a narrative, rather than trying to explain the science behind the breakthroughs, which was way over our heads (we are humble creative types, after all…)! The approach was enabled by using the visual language of film posters, which distill complex plots and characters into a single narrative image. See the Breakthrough Prize poster case study here: https://lnkd.in/extKfSbh

Really looking forward to speaking at this event. I attended a Standing up for Science workshop a few years ago and found it so valuable in understanding how the worlds of science, policy, and media interact. Hope to see you there! 👋 Sense about Science

CMIS The 11th Contact Mechanics International Symposium (CMIS) aims at gathering researchers interested in a broad range of topics in theoretical, mathematical, computational and experimental aspects of contact mechanics. The symposium addresses a wide panorama of topics in the area of contact mechanics in order to reinforce interactions and collaborations between the various communities: Models, friction laws; wear; tribological modeling; cohesive zone models; rolling; Emerging computational approaches: methods, algorithms and numerical analysis; Mathematical analysis; Dynamic contact problems, instabilities; Nano and micromechanics of contact and multiscale approaches; Multiphysics and thermomechanical coupling; Granular materials and rigid bodies; Contact modeling in mechanical and civil engineering, biomechanics and geomechanics; Architected/textured contact interfaces Experiments in contact mechanics The locations of CMIS have always been selected with the idea of providing a quiet and private environment to encourage scientific discussions among the participants. Following such tradition, CMIS 2024 will be held at Domaine Lyon Saint-Joseph close to Lyon in France, a wonderful place, heaven of peace dedicated to study and calm. https://lnkd.in/dFSJGupT

📣 Join us next week for a guest seminar with Majid Zamani, associate professor of Computer Science at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Wednesday, April 3 1-2PM 📍 CSU Lory Student Center 396 (Virginia Dale) Title: Correct-by-Construction Synthesis of Cyber-Physical Systems Abstract: Correct-by-construction synthesis emerges as a pivotal approach at the convergence of formal methods and control theory, especially in the domain of designing safety-critical systems. Departing from the traditional, yet laborious (re)design-verify-validate loop, the correct-by-construction methodology advocates for the iterative refinement of formal requirements, interconnected by chains of formal proofs. This strategy facilitates the development of systems inherently embodying correctness in their design. In the past two decades, significant progress has been achieved in broadening the scope of correct-by-construction synthesis, particularly focusing on cyber-physical systems that integrate discrete-event control with continuous-space environments. This expansion is realized through the fusion of symbolic techniques with systematic state-space reduction methods, thereby enhancing the applicability of correct-by-construction synthesis to large-scale control systems. This talk aims to highlight the recent strides we have made, which serve as building blocks for establishing a solid foundation for the correct-by-construction synthesis of cyber-physical systems. #seminarseries #guestlecturer #cyberphysicalsystems

2nd São Carlos School on glasses and glass-ceramics nucleates a new network Just wanted to give a big shout-out as we wrap up the 2nd São Carlos School on Glasses and Glass-Ceramics. A full 40 hours (19 lectures and lab visits) packed with updated info about glasses and glass-ceramics, from their structures to dynamic processes and properties. We had around 75 PhD students and post-docs from 13 different countries mixing it up, sharing ideas, and creating an awesome vibe. And wasn’t the social program and the exotic meals a blast? Can’t wait to catch up with some of you and attendees of our previous School at the next glass conferences in Las Vegas (GOMD-ACeRS), Cambridge (ESG/SGT), Alfred, Korea (IGC), Orleans (Crystallization)... The Sanca School network is nucleated and going strong! The YouTube links for 15 of the 19 lectures are dropping next week. Perfect for anyone who’s interested in glass science and technology, and wants to relive those moments or catch what they missed. Big thanks to the CeRTEV crew for bringing us all together. Massive thanks to the 21 instructors, student mentors (who are now members of this new network), and companies who got everyone to Brazil and sponsored the technical and social activities: FAPESP, DEMa-UFSCar, ParqTec São Carlos, FAI-UFSCar, IFSC-USP, FunGlass, Şişecam, AGC, and Corning.

Yesterday I attended 'Interact' in Newcastle. It was an event intended for science (especially physical sciences) outreach professionals. It was pretty clear to me that many of those attending had little idea of why they were doing outreach or what outcomes they wanted. The issue came into sharp focus in discussions about feedback and evaluating outreach events. To paraphrase Lewis Carol, "if you don't know where you're going, it's awfully difficult to know when you get there". After much lip biting yesterday, today Facebook reminded me that one of my biggest outreach projects, PiKon, a 3D printed telescope had become 10 years old. The project has resulted in over 500 Raspberry Pi powered telescope builds all over the world. My objectives? To enthuse people with science, physics, optics and astronomy. But my 500 builds is not a measure of success, rather the number of meaningful interactions where I can see I've helped instil sufficient enthusiasm in someone to move them to a deeper commitment to science and technology. It's not really quantifiable, but it's more useful than meaningless numbers. And here we need to think of science of art! The process of science is a creative experience which is valuable in itself. A PiKon build, it's not about owning a telescope, it's about the process of building it, what you learn in the process and the feeling of achievement once you've done it. It builds enthusiasm, and that's a valuable tool in our disruptive technological world. In terms of science as art, nobody asked Michael Angelo how many people had visited the Sistine Chapel once he'd finished it. He was working at a much more meaningful level than that. You can find out more about the PiKon on my personal web site: https://lnkd.in/eB3ksP5k

I am thrilled to share that my first scientific publication is now accessible on arXiv. Over the last 1.5 years, I dedicated myself to this project under the guidance of Prof. Andreas M. Menzel at Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, where I pursued junior studies during my final year of high school. In this paper, we study the stochastic motion of a particle in a shear-thinning environment with the help of a formal analogy between the associated Fokker-Planck equation and the Schrödinger equation for a quantum-mechanical oscillator in a nonharmonic Pöschl-Teller potential. The article is scheduled for publication in Physical Review E, by the American Physical Society. However, the preprint is readily available for review on arXiv: https://lnkd.in/eUrxq2_y Enclosed below is a figure illustrating the spatial statistics of the particle at various times. Notably, the deviation from Gaussian behavior during intermediate times stands out, a departure from scenarios involving linear friction. EDIT: It has today also been published online by Phys. Rev. E.: https://lnkd.in/dnc5sjaF

How did you end your week?? Last meeting of the week and I had the pleasure and honour to conduct a guest lecture at the Technical University of Munich to our future talents of Engineers, Scientists and Technologists. „Improving the world with Virtual Twins powered by AI“ The future of STEM knowledge looks positive when I reflect on the width, depth and smartness of the questions. Thanks all!!! BUT, we all need to do more to excite the next generation of innovators… Thanks to Sebastian Junker and Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Horst Wildemann for making it happen. (See below- Typical students, back of the class still rules!!)