Victor V. Albert
@vva.bsky.social
Theoretical physicist @NIST, QuICS Fellow, Zookeeper @eczoo.bsky.social. Views my own.
Pinned
Victor V. Albert
@vva.bsky.social
· Jul 11
arxiv.org
"For quantum computers to get significant speed-up, they need to take advantage of special structure. They do not offer significant speed-up for unstructured problems, so we do not expect to be able to just throw them at anything." Andrew Childs arxiv.org/pdf/2408.16175
A short talk on continuous-variable (CV) codes and designs, aimed for a math audience. doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
Quantum theory of molecular orientation
doi.org
November 26, 2025 at 12:09 AM
A short talk on continuous-variable (CV) codes and designs, aimed for a math audience. doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
Music has some pretty serious underlying geometry and category theory! media.ed.ac.uk/media/Beyond...
Beyond the Geometry of Music
Higgs Centre Colloquium - Dmitri Tymoczko
media.ed.ac.uk
November 24, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Music has some pretty serious underlying geometry and category theory! media.ed.ac.uk/media/Beyond...
Error detection and correction at @umdscience.bsky.social has a long history: the guy who invented the barcode is an alum! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...
George Laurer - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 17, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Error detection and correction at @umdscience.bsky.social has a long history: the guy who invented the barcode is an alum! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...
"Even for the fastest qubit modalities, such as superconducting qubits, it will be challenging to achieve the required logical clock speeds. ...in the long term, the best quantum computer may be the one that runs the fastest." arxiv.org/abs/2510.26078
The Fast for the Curious: How to accelerate fault-tolerant quantum applications
We evaluate strategies for reducing the run time of fault-tolerant quantum computations, targeting practical utility in scientific or industrial workflows. Delivering a technology with broad impact re...
arxiv.org
October 31, 2025 at 2:54 PM
"Even for the fastest qubit modalities, such as superconducting qubits, it will be challenging to achieve the required logical clock speeds. ...in the long term, the best quantum computer may be the one that runs the fastest." arxiv.org/abs/2510.26078
QuICS Hartree fellowship application is out! A competitive and completely free-range postdoc. Anyone interested in quantum science and technology topics is encouraged to apply, preferably by Dec. 1. umd.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UMCP/j...
QuICS Hartree Postdoctoral Fellow
Job Description Summary The Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS, http://quics.umd.edu) is seeking exceptional candidates for the QuICS Hartree Postdoctoral Fellowships in ...
umd.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:06 PM
QuICS Hartree fellowship application is out! A competitive and completely free-range postdoc. Anyone interested in quantum science and technology topics is encouraged to apply, preferably by Dec. 1. umd.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UMCP/j...
"Quantum hardware platforms are advancing steadily, but no one knows when quantum computers will run applications that broadly benefit society."
When and how will quantum computing broadly benefit humanity? Despite exhilarating recent progress, we still don’t know. Here my friend Jens Eisert and I assess the current status and the challenges ahead.
arxiv.org/abs/2510.19928
arxiv.org/abs/2510.19928
Mind the gaps: The fraught road to quantum advantage
Quantum computing is advancing rapidly, yet substantial gaps separate today's noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices from tomorrow's fault-tolerant application-scale (FASQ) machines. We ident...
arxiv.org
October 24, 2025 at 1:31 PM
"Quantum hardware platforms are advancing steadily, but no one knows when quantum computers will run applications that broadly benefit society."
2025 UMD Quantum postdoc job thread.
We start with the Quantum Optics Fellowship, intended for AMO and QI. Anyone who would have applied for the JQI Fellowship should apply to this one. academicjobsonline.org/ajo/fellowsh...
We start with the Quantum Optics Fellowship, intended for AMO and QI. Anyone who would have applied for the JQI Fellowship should apply to this one. academicjobsonline.org/ajo/fellowsh...
University of Maryland, Joint Quantum Institute/Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science
Job #AJO30633, University of Maryland Theoretical Quantum Optics Fellowship, Joint Quantum Institute/Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science, University of Maryland, College Park, ...
academicjobsonline.org
October 15, 2025 at 2:58 PM
2025 UMD Quantum postdoc job thread.
We start with the Quantum Optics Fellowship, intended for AMO and QI. Anyone who would have applied for the JQI Fellowship should apply to this one. academicjobsonline.org/ajo/fellowsh...
We start with the Quantum Optics Fellowship, intended for AMO and QI. Anyone who would have applied for the JQI Fellowship should apply to this one. academicjobsonline.org/ajo/fellowsh...
Impressive span of group theory here, covering Schur-Weyl, Peter-Weyl, bosonic systems, modular qudits, Galois qudits, designs, MUBs, and more. link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
Group Representation for Quantum Theory
This book explains the group representation theory for quantum theory in the language of quantum theory. As is well known, group representation theory is very strong tool for quantum theory, in partic...
link.springer.com
October 14, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Impressive span of group theory here, covering Schur-Weyl, Peter-Weyl, bosonic systems, modular qudits, Galois qudits, designs, MUBs, and more. link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
Every time I interact with Michel, he has some deep insight that I understand only years later. Maybe it is not completely fleshed out technically but it is always on point. It reminded me of other winners in the past. Well deserved!
Nobel in Physics to Clarke, Devoret and Martinis! Congratulations to them!
Citation says for work in the 1980s on quantized current.
Citation says for work in the 1980s on quantized current.
October 7, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Every time I interact with Michel, he has some deep insight that I understand only years later. Maybe it is not completely fleshed out technically but it is always on point. It reminded me of other winners in the past. Well deserved!
A new proposal imposes significant restrictions on F-1 and J-1 visas, which would sharply curtail foreign talent flow to US grad schools. Both UMD Physics and umiacs are urging faculty to comment, so please consider. Comment period expires Sept 29. www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media
Unlike most nonimmigrant classifications, which are admitted for a fixed time period, aliens in the F (academic student), J (exchange visitor), and most I (representatives of foreign information media...
www.federalregister.gov
September 26, 2025 at 12:34 AM
A new proposal imposes significant restrictions on F-1 and J-1 visas, which would sharply curtail foreign talent flow to US grad schools. Both UMD Physics and umiacs are urging faculty to comment, so please consider. Comment period expires Sept 29. www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Reposted by Victor V. Albert
This is interesting and surprising: some Clifford gates cannot be implemented arbitrarily well on arbitrarily good approximate GKP states with Gaussian operations!
Nice work by Brenner, Diaz and Koenig
arxiv.org/abs/2509.14658
Cat qubits (and generalizations) for the win, I guess
;-)
Nice work by Brenner, Diaz and Koenig
arxiv.org/abs/2509.14658
Cat qubits (and generalizations) for the win, I guess
;-)
Composable logical gate error in approximate quantum error correction: reexamining gate implementations in Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill codes
Quantifying the accuracy of logical gates is paramount in approximate error correction, where perfect implementations are often unachievable with the available set of physical operations. To this end,...
arxiv.org
September 19, 2025 at 1:22 PM
This is interesting and surprising: some Clifford gates cannot be implemented arbitrarily well on arbitrarily good approximate GKP states with Gaussian operations!
Nice work by Brenner, Diaz and Koenig
arxiv.org/abs/2509.14658
Cat qubits (and generalizations) for the win, I guess
;-)
Nice work by Brenner, Diaz and Koenig
arxiv.org/abs/2509.14658
Cat qubits (and generalizations) for the win, I guess
;-)
David Gross (Cologne) talks about SDP based quantum algorithms. Take home: hidden constants matter. Even if there is an asymptotic speedup in your favorite use case, it may still not be in the parameter regime that is relevant to the problem size you're interested in.
September 10, 2025 at 4:37 PM
David Gross (Cologne) talks about SDP based quantum algorithms. Take home: hidden constants matter. Even if there is an asymptotic speedup in your favorite use case, it may still not be in the parameter regime that is relevant to the problem size you're interested in.
Reposted by Victor V. Albert
Nobel Prize Laureate Roger Penrose, Yvette Fuentes, and myself, request your help in order to save an archive of incredible scientific and historical value. Please raise awareness by *sharing*, or *contribute*:
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-penr...
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-penr...
Roger Penrose & Friends Appeal for Unique Archive
To digitise and restore the worlds largest collection of audio and visual recordings within the scientific community, spanning over 50 years
www.crowdfunder.co.uk
September 8, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Nobel Prize Laureate Roger Penrose, Yvette Fuentes, and myself, request your help in order to save an archive of incredible scientific and historical value. Please raise awareness by *sharing*, or *contribute*:
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-penr...
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-penr...
I had another fun opportunity to talk about our quantum formulation of the space of molecular orientations at Sorbonne University. Great workshop! Organized by Ugo Boscain, Christiane Koch, Mario Sigalotti, and Dominique Sugny. zenodo.org/records/1705...
Quantum theory of molecular orientation
zenodo.org
September 4, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I had another fun opportunity to talk about our quantum formulation of the space of molecular orientations at Sorbonne University. Great workshop! Organized by Ugo Boscain, Christiane Koch, Mario Sigalotti, and Dominique Sugny. zenodo.org/records/1705...
@ox.ac.uk debate by Simon Benjamin & Bálint Koczor, host @mariaviolaris.bsky.social. Motion: "quantum computers will have a greater impact on our lives than conventional ones." Terry Rudolph, Nathan Wiebe, Elham Kashefi vs @jenseisert.bsky.social, @graemesmith.bsky.social, me. Motion defeated 94-72.
August 29, 2025 at 9:18 AM
@ox.ac.uk debate by Simon Benjamin & Bálint Koczor, host @mariaviolaris.bsky.social. Motion: "quantum computers will have a greater impact on our lives than conventional ones." Terry Rudolph, Nathan Wiebe, Elham Kashefi vs @jenseisert.bsky.social, @graemesmith.bsky.social, me. Motion defeated 94-72.
"Every American taxpayer is a silent shareholder in that success. If we walk away now, we lose not just future breakthroughs but also what we have already earned." thehill.com/opinion/tech...
Congress wants to cut the smartest investment taxpayers ever made
Virtually every smartphone on the planet runs on a chip paid for by American taxpayers — a chip that I helped invent. Now Congress is moving to cut funding for the National Science Foundation that …
thehill.com
August 13, 2025 at 5:57 AM
"Every American taxpayer is a silent shareholder in that success. If we walk away now, we lose not just future breakthroughs but also what we have already earned." thehill.com/opinion/tech...
Reposted by Victor V. Albert
We are now at 999 codes. What should be our 1000th? If we pick yours, we will feature you in a post about the code.
Comment, reply, message, and spread the word.
Comment, reply, message, and spread the word.
July 18, 2025 at 1:47 AM
We are now at 999 codes. What should be our 1000th? If we pick yours, we will feature you in a post about the code.
Comment, reply, message, and spread the word.
Comment, reply, message, and spread the word.
Reposted by Victor V. Albert
After 3 1/2 years of work my course on quantum computing is finally finished — the "Director's Cut" of Understanding Quantum Information and Computation is now available.
arxiv.org/abs/2507.11536
arxiv.org/abs/2507.11536
Understanding Quantum Information and Computation
This is a course on the theory of quantum computing. It consists of 16 lessons, each with a video and written component, covering the basics of quantum information, quantum algorithms (including query...
arxiv.org
July 16, 2025 at 11:06 AM
After 3 1/2 years of work my course on quantum computing is finally finished — the "Director's Cut" of Understanding Quantum Information and Computation is now available.
arxiv.org/abs/2507.11536
arxiv.org/abs/2507.11536
"For quantum computers to get significant speed-up, they need to take advantage of special structure. They do not offer significant speed-up for unstructured problems, so we do not expect to be able to just throw them at anything." Andrew Childs arxiv.org/pdf/2408.16175
arxiv.org
July 11, 2025 at 2:23 PM
"For quantum computers to get significant speed-up, they need to take advantage of special structure. They do not offer significant speed-up for unstructured problems, so we do not expect to be able to just throw them at anything." Andrew Childs arxiv.org/pdf/2408.16175
From Barbara Terhal: On July 17-18 a small symposium "Dreams of Quantum" will be held in honor of David DiVincenzo's work and retirement at RWTH Aachen. The event can be attended by all via a Zoom link. www.quantuminfo.physik.rwth-aachen.de/cms/~bmmwed
Symposium | Institut für Quanteninformation | RWTH Aachen University | DE
July 17-18, 2025
Ford Saal, Super C
RWTH Aachen University
www.quantuminfo.physik.rwth-aachen.de
July 3, 2025 at 7:39 AM
From Barbara Terhal: On July 17-18 a small symposium "Dreams of Quantum" will be held in honor of David DiVincenzo's work and retirement at RWTH Aachen. The event can be attended by all via a Zoom link. www.quantuminfo.physik.rwth-aachen.de/cms/~bmmwed
"We're likely to experience a DeepSeek moment in quantum." www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqPw...
Preparing for the Quantum Age: When Cryptography Breaks
YouTube video by GOP Oversight
www.youtube.com
June 26, 2025 at 4:27 PM
"We're likely to experience a DeepSeek moment in quantum." www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqPw...
Lots of good Lie group stuff in this post by @dwierichs.bsky.social, as it related to circuit compilation: pennylane.ai/qml/demos/tu...
The KAK decomposition | PennyLane Demos
Learn about the KAK decomposition and how it powers circuit decompositions.
pennylane.ai
June 26, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Lots of good Lie group stuff in this post by @dwierichs.bsky.social, as it related to circuit compilation: pennylane.ai/qml/demos/tu...
"for U.S. developed nanotechnology to compete in the current era, the United States must rethink the entirety of its ... framework, within which nanotechnology knowledge is created, innovation is protected, and products are commercialized by industry." nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2572...
A Quadrennial Review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative: Nanoscience, Applications, and Commercialization
Read online, download a free PDF, or order a copy in print or as an eBook.
nap.nationalacademies.org
June 14, 2025 at 5:39 PM
"for U.S. developed nanotechnology to compete in the current era, the United States must rethink the entirety of its ... framework, within which nanotechnology knowledge is created, innovation is protected, and products are commercialized by industry." nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2572...
The integer eigenvalues of angular momentum in a 2D space with periodic boundary conditions are scaled by the radius (for sufficiently large radii). Turns out there is a continuum of angular momenta! arxiv.org/abs/2506.03254
June 9, 2025 at 1:53 PM
The integer eigenvalues of angular momentum in a 2D space with periodic boundary conditions are scaled by the radius (for sufficiently large radii). Turns out there is a continuum of angular momenta! arxiv.org/abs/2506.03254
Reposted by Victor V. Albert
Happy to see our book "Why Nobody Understands Quantum Physics" published in English www.panmacmillan.com/authors/fran.... Unlike other popular science books, we explain quantum and its applications in the way working physicists use and understand them, without shying away from the many-body problem.
June 8, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Happy to see our book "Why Nobody Understands Quantum Physics" published in English www.panmacmillan.com/authors/fran.... Unlike other popular science books, we explain quantum and its applications in the way working physicists use and understand them, without shying away from the many-body problem.