Quantum@SUN

Title:  NITheCS Micro-School: Introduction to Visual Studio Code Your Coding Playground

Speaker: Dean Brand (Stellenbosch University)

Abstract:

Scientific programming is an invaluable tool, however a tool is only as good as its workbench. When creating your next piece of software, it should be a first consideration to decide where you want to create the code. This introductory lecture will focus on installing and getting started with one of the most powerful and fully equipped text editors out there. Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is an industry standard for programming in all languages and frameworks due to its ease of use and high performance. While it is a text editor, it can be configured to be a fullyfledged Integrated Development Environment (IDE). It can provide significant insight into the code that you write and the process of debugging and improving the software you create.

Biography:

Dean is a second-year PhD student in the Quantum Research Group of Stellenbosch University, under the supervision of Prof Francesco Petruccione. His current research focuses on the intersection of quantum computing and neuromorphic computing, to find an optimal hybridisation of these technologies. Dean completed his BSc and BSc Honours at the University of the Witwatersrand, majoring in astronomy, astrophysics, and theoretical physics. After this he completed a NITheCS internship with Prof Petruccione and Prof Ilya Sinayskiy (University of KwaZulu-Natal) (UKZN), which was an introductory research project on quantum computing. This led to a Master’s degree with the same supervisors at UKZN, which was based on an application of Open Quantum Systems techniques to model the noise of IBM quantum computers. His research interests have since evolved to include machine learning and quantum algorithms, which are central to the idea and aims of neuromorphic quantum computing, especially for applications such as artificial intelligence and deep learning

A link to the announcement may be found here.

Title of talk: Mathematical models of basal cognition

Speaker: Dr Linnéa Gyllingberg

(Uppsala University, Sweden)

Abstract:

Building mathematical models of brains is difficult because of the sheer complexity of the problem. One potential approach is to start by identifying models of basal cognition, which give an abstract representation of a range of organisms without central nervous systems, including fungi, slime moulds, and bacteria. In this talk, I will first discuss the cognitive abilities of the true slime mould, Physarum polycephalum. Despite being an acellular organism, the true slime mould demonstrates habituation, finds shortest paths between food sources, and anticipates periodic events. I will then present a mathematical model for basal cognition that combines oscillatory and current-based reinforcement processes to mimic some of the cognitive abilities observed in slime moulds and other organisms demonstrating basal cognition.

Biography:

Linnéa Gyllingberg recently received a PhD in applied mathematics from Uppsala University, within the Centre for Interdisciplinary Mathematics in Sweden. In September, she will start as a postdoctoral scholar at the Department of Mathematics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the USA, working with Prof Mason Porter. Her research focuses on developing and analysing mathematical models and methods for different biological applications. She uses dynamical systems, network models, and agent-based modelling, as well as statistical methods, to understand collective behaviour, decision making, and complex systems.

A link to the announcement may be found here.

Title:  NITheCS Micro-School: Matplotlib Introduction – Don’t Lose the Plot

Speaker: Donovan Slabbert (Stellenbosch University)

Abstract:

A multitude of tools and technologies are available for creating informative plots in data analysis, including various programming languages, libraries, and software packages. This introduction will focus on the Matplotlib library, particularly the Pyplot module, demonstrating how to create basic plots in Python. We will explore techniques to decorate and refine these plots, enhancing their effectiveness for visualisation and communication. Topics will include customising plot elements, using different colour options, and adding annotations and labels. The goal is to equip attendees with the skills to produce clear visualisations

Biography:

Donovan is a second-year PhD student at Stellenbosch University under Prof Francesco Petruccione. His research combines quantum machine learning and astronomy, using Quantum Convolutional Neural Networks and Quantum-Enhanced Support Vector Machines for pulsar classification and anomaly detection. He earned a physics degree from the University of Pretoria and a Master’s in quantum information and communication from the University of Witwatersrand, specialising in quantum key distribution. He interned at IBMQ South Africa in Braamfontein.

A link to the announcement may be found here.

Title of talk: Solving discrete optimization problems with a variational quantum-inspired algorithm

Title:  Quantum@SUN Webinar: Solving discrete optimisation problems with a variational quantum-inspired algorithm

Speaker: Prof Vincenzo Savona (Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, EPFL, Switzerland)

Abstract:

Since the 1980s, quantum mechanics has undergone a remarkable transition from solely a theoretical framework of fundamental science to a domain rich with technological applications. Among these, a prominent example is the application of quantum mechanics to speed up the solution of complex optimisation problems, ubiquitous across fields such as engineering, industrial processes, finance, or healthcare. Despite most discrete optimisation problems being computationally hard, the quantum annealing protocol and its digital counterpart on quantum computers still promise a considerable advantage with respect to the best classical algorithms serving the same purpose. The key to this advantage is quantum entanglement, which, however, cannot be fully modelled by classical computing. In this work, we analyse to what extent such benefit can be retained by a classical algorithm taking inspiration from the quantum annealing protocol. With this purpose, we develop a simulated quantum annealing algorithm based on a variational representation of the quantum state. This method partially captures quantum correlations, while remaining computationally feasible and providing significant advantages with respect to state-of-the-art methods. We test our procedure on various benchmark problems and characterise its advantages. We discuss possible applications and further developments, in particular related to hybrid optimisation heuristics.

Biography:

Vincenzo Savona holds the position of Associate Professor of Physics at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, where he leads the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics of Nanosystems. He also serves as the Director of the EPFL Center for Quantum Science and Engineering. His research covers several areas of quantum science and technology, including open quantum systems, quantum optics, photonics, quantum information, and quantum computing. Vincenzo completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Pisa and the Scuola Normale Superiore in Italy. He obtained his PhD from EPFL in 1997. From 1999 to 2002, he was a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Humboldt University in Berlin. Starting in 2002, he held an SNSF Professorship at EPFL, where he was appointed associate professor in 2010. He teaches quantum physics and quantum computing to undergraduate and graduate students in physics and engineering. As Director of the EPFL QSE Center, he has established partnerships and collaborations with various industries and academic institutions. He collaborates with the GESDA foundation and the Open Quantum Institute to develop use cases of quantum computing for the UN sustainable development goals, such as zero hunger through optimisation of food systems. His work bridges fundamental research in quantum physics with applied fields, focusing on the potential for early industrial applications of quantum technologies. He concentrates on developing new concepts for efficient quantum computing platforms, and quantum and quantum-inspired algorithms for modelling and optimisation.

A link to the announcement may be found here.