Welcome!
In the Verresen group at the University of Chicago, we explore the theory of quantum-entangled states. We focus on systems with many degrees of freedom, where the richness of emergent phenomena can arise. Key questions are:
- What are the collective properties of interacting quantum particles? (E.g., topological phases of matter!)
- How do we describe such emergent phenomena? (E.g., quantum field theories or tensor network methods)
- How do we realize these new ideas and harness their power in the lab? (E.g., implementations on quantum computers)
The exploration of these questions combines various different disciplines:
- Condensed Matter Physics studies quantum phases of matter. Remarkably, quantum effects can persist to the human scale! See, e.g., superconductors, or topological states whose resistance is an integer multiple of e2/h by one part in a billion!
- Quantum Information Theory characterizes quantum states as resources, answering such questions as how can we use topological states to implement quantum computations?
- Quantum Field Theory describes robust universal features of entangled states, using such notions as emergent gauge fields and generalized symmetries.
- Tensor Networks originate from Penrose’s graphical notation for general relativity and are now a powerful analytic and numerical framework for describing entangled quantum states.
It is an exciting time to explore these interdisciplinary topics: in addition to the conceptual fun, many collective quantum phenomena can now be implemented and observed due to advances in quantum technology. Hence, in the Verresen group, we also collaborate with experimental labs working on engineered quantum platforms, from solid-state approaches to tunable quantum devices such as cold atoms, ions, or superconducting qubits. If you are curious to find out more, check out our publications or the research page!
If you might be interested in joining our group, see the how to join page. In addition to an excitement for physics, mutual respect for one another is a pillar of our group. What makes science so fun is not just the insights and end-results, but it is also the process of getting there—and we strive to make this process as encouraging and welcoming as possible!