Overview

We are a research group in theoretical physics and quantum information science.

Our research focuses on quantum mechanical systems which allow for phases with excitations and interactions of a topological nature, especially planar systems which harbour quasiparticles that are not bosons or fermions, but anyons. Anyons have not yet been directly observed, but are believed to exist in a number of systems, most prominently in certain fractional quantum Hall states. Some anyonic systems are promising candidate media for topological quantum computation (TQC), a naturally fault tolerant and scalable approach to quantum computation.

Here's a short introduction to some of the concepts behind TQC

Objectives

From the research programme for our first grant, here are some broad-strokes objectives
Much more detail is available on request (email joost-at-thphys-dot-nuim-dot-ie)

• Develop new theoretical and computing skills to deal with all aspects toopologically ordered systems, notably candidate systems for TQC, such as fractional quantum Hall states, p-wave superconductors, topological insulators, strongly correlated spin models and engineered topological phases in atomic and molecular lattices and Josephson junction arrays.
• Design, study and simulate methods and devices for the realisation of topological quantum memory and quantum gates in the various proposed quantum media.
• Identify and study readily measurable or calculable indicators for and characterizations of topological order in complex quantum systems, in order to come to a more fundamental understanding of topologically ordered phases and also with the aim to seek out new states of matter that could be utilized as TQC media.