James Wootton
@decodoku.bsky.social
Misusing quantum computers for fun and/or science. Spock at Moth Quantum. Two Ts and no Es. All nonsense here is my own doing
Pinned
James Wootton
@decodoku.bsky.social
· Aug 24
Space Moths
Space Moths will be released during Gamescom 2025. Click on the ⭐️ button to be the first to play with quantum on-demand!
For ages, the moths of the planet Nerii lived peacefully, their wings shimmer...
www.roblox.com
What better to do on Sunday morning than a little gaming?
If you want to play a game with levels generated on-demand by a quantum computer, then you are in luck. Since it is #gamescom2025, we are doing just that!
But you can also play it at home in your pajamas
www.roblox.com/games/941695...
If you want to play a game with levels generated on-demand by a quantum computer, then you are in luck. Since it is #gamescom2025, we are doing just that!
But you can also play it at home in your pajamas
www.roblox.com/games/941695...
Reposted by James Wootton
Devastated that I didn’t make the cut James! :’(
Rapid Dissipative Ground State Preparation at Chemical Transition States
Simulating chemical reactions is a central challenge in computational chemistry, characterized by an uneven difficulty profile: while equilibrium reactant and product geometries are often classically ...
arxiv.org
February 16, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Devastated that I didn’t make the cut James! :’(
Two great papers on the arXiv today!
One has a title echoing that of Kitaev's "Fault-tolerant quantum computation by anyons" almost 30 years ago. Finally Anasuya Lyons and @benbrown.bsky.social shown how to make it work from encoding to decoding.
arxiv.org/abs/2602.11258
One has a title echoing that of Kitaev's "Fault-tolerant quantum computation by anyons" almost 30 years ago. Finally Anasuya Lyons and @benbrown.bsky.social shown how to make it work from encoding to decoding.
arxiv.org/abs/2602.11258
February 13, 2026 at 9:59 AM
Two great papers on the arXiv today!
One has a title echoing that of Kitaev's "Fault-tolerant quantum computation by anyons" almost 30 years ago. Finally Anasuya Lyons and @benbrown.bsky.social shown how to make it work from encoding to decoding.
arxiv.org/abs/2602.11258
One has a title echoing that of Kitaev's "Fault-tolerant quantum computation by anyons" almost 30 years ago. Finally Anasuya Lyons and @benbrown.bsky.social shown how to make it work from encoding to decoding.
arxiv.org/abs/2602.11258
Reposted by James Wootton
We've studied iterative strategies for finding ground states
We use the ground state of an easy Hamiltonian to `warm start' finding the ground states for some harder Hamiltonians
We derive gradient guarantees that (as for adiabatic methods) depend on the gap and a few other natural properties
🧵👇
We use the ground state of an easy Hamiltonian to `warm start' finding the ground states for some harder Hamiltonians
We derive gradient guarantees that (as for adiabatic methods) depend on the gap and a few other natural properties
🧵👇
February 9, 2026 at 1:44 PM
We've studied iterative strategies for finding ground states
We use the ground state of an easy Hamiltonian to `warm start' finding the ground states for some harder Hamiltonians
We derive gradient guarantees that (as for adiabatic methods) depend on the gap and a few other natural properties
🧵👇
We use the ground state of an easy Hamiltonian to `warm start' finding the ground states for some harder Hamiltonians
We derive gradient guarantees that (as for adiabatic methods) depend on the gap and a few other natural properties
🧵👇
Reposted by James Wootton
Did you know you can simulate quantum states with Pauli and Majorana propagation?
In short: High-temperature states are provably and practically sparse, and we can use imaginary time evolution to get there starting from the infinite-temperature state.
scirate.com/arxiv/2602.0...
In short: High-temperature states are provably and practically sparse, and we can use imaginary time evolution to get there starting from the infinite-temperature state.
scirate.com/arxiv/2602.0...
February 5, 2026 at 10:37 AM
Did you know you can simulate quantum states with Pauli and Majorana propagation?
In short: High-temperature states are provably and practically sparse, and we can use imaginary time evolution to get there starting from the infinite-temperature state.
scirate.com/arxiv/2602.0...
In short: High-temperature states are provably and practically sparse, and we can use imaginary time evolution to get there starting from the infinite-temperature state.
scirate.com/arxiv/2602.0...
How do we figure out the circuit required to prepare a given state, and what's the best circuit? With help from MPS, these guys get it down to logarithmic depth.
arxiv.org/abs/2602.02698
arxiv.org/abs/2602.02698
February 4, 2026 at 9:42 AM
How do we figure out the circuit required to prepare a given state, and what's the best circuit? With help from MPS, these guys get it down to logarithmic depth.
arxiv.org/abs/2602.02698
arxiv.org/abs/2602.02698
Spin qubits have finally reached the point where superconducting qubits were 10 years ago!
arxiv.org/abs/2601.23267
arxiv.org/abs/2601.23267
Weight-four parity checks with silicon spin qubits
Recent advances in coherent spin shuttling have made sparse semiconductor spin qubit arrays an appealing solid-state platform to realize quantum processors. The dynamic and long-range connectivity ena...
arxiv.org
February 3, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Spin qubits have finally reached the point where superconducting qubits were 10 years ago!
arxiv.org/abs/2601.23267
arxiv.org/abs/2601.23267
I have 1024 followers!
Nobody else follow me now. I like powers of 2.
Nobody else follow me now. I like powers of 2.
February 2, 2026 at 5:55 AM
I have 1024 followers!
Nobody else follow me now. I like powers of 2.
Nobody else follow me now. I like powers of 2.
Logical qubits encoded in the fusion space of non-Abelian anyons in a generalized surface code.
Not the most efficient way to build a quantum computer, but definitely the coolest!
Quantinuum and co show how it's done on one of their H2 devices.
arxiv.org/abs/2601.20956
Not the most efficient way to build a quantum computer, but definitely the coolest!
Quantinuum and co show how it's done on one of their H2 devices.
arxiv.org/abs/2601.20956
January 30, 2026 at 8:33 AM
Logical qubits encoded in the fusion space of non-Abelian anyons in a generalized surface code.
Not the most efficient way to build a quantum computer, but definitely the coolest!
Quantinuum and co show how it's done on one of their H2 devices.
arxiv.org/abs/2601.20956
Not the most efficient way to build a quantum computer, but definitely the coolest!
Quantinuum and co show how it's done on one of their H2 devices.
arxiv.org/abs/2601.20956
Yesterday I did two things:
* Wrote a self-indulgent blog post reflecting on the last 10 years in which I went crazy and started doing quantum games.
* Held a surface code in my hand.
Here I share both with you, the denizens of blue sky
open.substack.com/pub/mothquan...
* Wrote a self-indulgent blog post reflecting on the last 10 years in which I went crazy and started doing quantum games.
* Held a surface code in my hand.
Here I share both with you, the denizens of blue sky
open.substack.com/pub/mothquan...
January 29, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Yesterday I did two things:
* Wrote a self-indulgent blog post reflecting on the last 10 years in which I went crazy and started doing quantum games.
* Held a surface code in my hand.
Here I share both with you, the denizens of blue sky
open.substack.com/pub/mothquan...
* Wrote a self-indulgent blog post reflecting on the last 10 years in which I went crazy and started doing quantum games.
* Held a surface code in my hand.
Here I share both with you, the denizens of blue sky
open.substack.com/pub/mothquan...
Today we get the computer scientists' view on the transition into fault-tolerance.
There will indeed be a whole lot of classical computing involved in getting early fault-tolerance running, and the better it is, the more quantum we can use.
arxiv.org/abs/2601.20247
There will indeed be a whole lot of classical computing involved in getting early fault-tolerance running, and the better it is, the more quantum we can use.
arxiv.org/abs/2601.20247
January 29, 2026 at 8:21 AM
Today we get the computer scientists' view on the transition into fault-tolerance.
There will indeed be a whole lot of classical computing involved in getting early fault-tolerance running, and the better it is, the more quantum we can use.
arxiv.org/abs/2601.20247
There will indeed be a whole lot of classical computing involved in getting early fault-tolerance running, and the better it is, the more quantum we can use.
arxiv.org/abs/2601.20247
Always nice to see that quantum foundations have survived the wave of capitalism that has swept through quantum.
Today Hausmann and Renner from ETH show that quantum states are more than just a few probability distributions in a trenchcoat.
arxiv.org/abs/2601.18872
Today Hausmann and Renner from ETH show that quantum states are more than just a few probability distributions in a trenchcoat.
arxiv.org/abs/2601.18872
January 28, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Always nice to see that quantum foundations have survived the wave of capitalism that has swept through quantum.
Today Hausmann and Renner from ETH show that quantum states are more than just a few probability distributions in a trenchcoat.
arxiv.org/abs/2601.18872
Today Hausmann and Renner from ETH show that quantum states are more than just a few probability distributions in a trenchcoat.
arxiv.org/abs/2601.18872
I got out of the habit of posting half-baked thoughts about papers when Twitter died, But I think I should bring it back!
This paper combines error mitigation inside QEC to cancel leading logical errors and effectively giving a distance boost.
arxiv.org/abs/2601.18384
This paper combines error mitigation inside QEC to cancel leading logical errors and effectively giving a distance boost.
arxiv.org/abs/2601.18384
January 27, 2026 at 10:29 AM
I got out of the habit of posting half-baked thoughts about papers when Twitter died, But I think I should bring it back!
This paper combines error mitigation inside QEC to cancel leading logical errors and effectively giving a distance boost.
arxiv.org/abs/2601.18384
This paper combines error mitigation inside QEC to cancel leading logical errors and effectively giving a distance boost.
arxiv.org/abs/2601.18384
Reposted by James Wootton
"We are a group of quantum scientists who oppose the ongoing militarization of our societies and the use of quantum research for military purposes."
disarmquantum.com
Manifesto:
arxiv.org/abs/2601.14282
Here's just one example:
"Quantum technology for military applications"
doi.org/10.1140/epjq...
disarmquantum.com
Manifesto:
arxiv.org/abs/2601.14282
Here's just one example:
"Quantum technology for military applications"
doi.org/10.1140/epjq...
January 23, 2026 at 12:01 PM
"We are a group of quantum scientists who oppose the ongoing militarization of our societies and the use of quantum research for military purposes."
disarmquantum.com
Manifesto:
arxiv.org/abs/2601.14282
Here's just one example:
"Quantum technology for military applications"
doi.org/10.1140/epjq...
disarmquantum.com
Manifesto:
arxiv.org/abs/2601.14282
Here's just one example:
"Quantum technology for military applications"
doi.org/10.1140/epjq...
What does early FTQC mean? It seems to be an increasingly popular term, but usage seems to split into two camps.
One is FTQC but early. So you have logical qubits with a decent distance, magic state production to support logical non-Cliffords. It's just early because you don't have a lot of it.
One is FTQC but early. So you have logical qubits with a decent distance, magic state production to support logical non-Cliffords. It's just early because you don't have a lot of it.
January 19, 2026 at 1:16 PM
What does early FTQC mean? It seems to be an increasingly popular term, but usage seems to split into two camps.
One is FTQC but early. So you have logical qubits with a decent distance, magic state production to support logical non-Cliffords. It's just early because you don't have a lot of it.
One is FTQC but early. So you have logical qubits with a decent distance, magic state production to support logical non-Cliffords. It's just early because you don't have a lot of it.
Reposted by James Wootton
Something a little different. Some cartoonists put out a call for comics about local ICE experiences. This one happened a few months ago so it's a little older than current events, but it's a story that I never stopped thinking about. #ICEoutcomics
January 18, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Something a little different. Some cartoonists put out a call for comics about local ICE experiences. This one happened a few months ago so it's a little older than current events, but it's a story that I never stopped thinking about. #ICEoutcomics
Is Q2B more Q than it was, or did I just become too B?
December 10, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Is Q2B more Q than it was, or did I just become too B?
Reposted by James Wootton
I think about this tweet a lot
November 30, 2025 at 4:23 AM
I think about this tweet a lot
Reposted by James Wootton
🎮 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮’𝘀 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲 is live! Built by our 2024 micrograntees, Ella Meyer & Timothy King, it lets students explore quantum through games. Join the 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗝𝗮𝗺 for grades 6-12: buff.ly/J5Yw5Mq
UBCs Year Of Quantum Arcade Game Jam | KnowledgeFlow Cybersafety Foundation
✨ We are excited to announce that UBC Geering Up has partnered with KnowledgeFlow and ICTC to host the first-ever International Year of Quantum: Arcade Game
buff.ly
November 26, 2025 at 7:54 PM
🎮 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮’𝘀 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲 is live! Built by our 2024 micrograntees, Ella Meyer & Timothy King, it lets students explore quantum through games. Join the 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗝𝗮𝗺 for grades 6-12: buff.ly/J5Yw5Mq
That's me. I did a thing.
⏰ The time to act is now: Download the full report first to gain deeper insights and chart your course in the QEC era: www.riverlane.com/quantum-erro...
🧪🧵(5/5) @decodoku.bsky.social @mothquantum.bsky.social
🧪🧵(5/5) @decodoku.bsky.social @mothquantum.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 9:50 AM
That's me. I did a thing.
Anyone in Geneva for Swiss Quantum Week?
I'm around today and tomorrow if anyone wants to catch up.
I'm around today and tomorrow if anyone wants to catch up.
October 13, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Anyone in Geneva for Swiss Quantum Week?
I'm around today and tomorrow if anyone wants to catch up.
I'm around today and tomorrow if anyone wants to catch up.
Today I'll be speaking at QTech 25 in Hungary: a collection of four quantum conferences in a trenchcoat.
Since I'll speak about our game whose level generation runs on-demand on a real QPU, we'll be turning the live QPU generation on this afternoon. Check it out!
www.roblox.com/games/941695...
Since I'll speak about our game whose level generation runs on-demand on a real QPU, we'll be turning the live QPU generation on this afternoon. Check it out!
www.roblox.com/games/941695...
Space Moths
Space Moths will be released during Gamescom 2025. Click on the ⭐️ button to be the first to play with quantum on-demand!
For ages, the moths of the planet Nerii lived peacefully, their wings shimmer...
www.roblox.com
September 25, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Today I'll be speaking at QTech 25 in Hungary: a collection of four quantum conferences in a trenchcoat.
Since I'll speak about our game whose level generation runs on-demand on a real QPU, we'll be turning the live QPU generation on this afternoon. Check it out!
www.roblox.com/games/941695...
Since I'll speak about our game whose level generation runs on-demand on a real QPU, we'll be turning the live QPU generation on this afternoon. Check it out!
www.roblox.com/games/941695...
Reposted by James Wootton
Makes me think if No Man's Sky launched today in the same way it did in 2016 people would accuse it of being AI slop.
Generative AI and (most) Procedural Content Generation are not the same thing.
(I should make a video about this...)
Generative AI and (most) Procedural Content Generation are not the same thing.
(I should make a video about this...)
It's silly to see procedurally generated content called "AI generated slop" because it really isn't. Procedural generation takes skills, generative AI does not.
September 18, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Makes me think if No Man's Sky launched today in the same way it did in 2016 people would accuse it of being AI slop.
Generative AI and (most) Procedural Content Generation are not the same thing.
(I should make a video about this...)
Generative AI and (most) Procedural Content Generation are not the same thing.
(I should make a video about this...)
Tenure track assistant prof job up for grabs in Basel. It's quantum computing theory, based in computer science, and part of the NCCR SPIN.
Whoever gets this job will probably have to collaborate with me. Whether you see that as a pro or con is up to you.
jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stell...
Whoever gets this job will probably have to collaborate with me. Whether you see that as a pro or con is up to you.
jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stell...
Universität Basel: Tenure-track Assistant Professorship in Theoretical Quantum Computing
The University of Basel, Switzerland, invites applications for a professorship in theoretical quantum computing. The University of Basel is the home institution of the Swiss National Center of Compete...
jobs.unibas.ch
September 15, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Tenure track assistant prof job up for grabs in Basel. It's quantum computing theory, based in computer science, and part of the NCCR SPIN.
Whoever gets this job will probably have to collaborate with me. Whether you see that as a pro or con is up to you.
jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stell...
Whoever gets this job will probably have to collaborate with me. Whether you see that as a pro or con is up to you.
jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stell...
This weekend is the global quantum game jam! Sign up and hack together a game over the weekend. Or just tune in to the talks on Twitch.
www.quantumgamejam.org
www.quantumgamejam.org
September 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
This weekend is the global quantum game jam! Sign up and hack together a game over the weekend. Or just tune in to the talks on Twitch.
www.quantumgamejam.org
www.quantumgamejam.org