Matthias Troyer from Microsoft Research
SC18 is continuing its series of session previews this week with a look at an Invited Talk on Quantum Computing by Matthias Troyer from Microsoft Research.
Still in early development, quantum computing is already overturning our contemporary notions of computational methods and devices. Using new concepts of computing based in quantum physics, quantum computers will be able to solve certain problems that are completely intractable on any imaginable classical computer, such as accurate simulations of molecules and materials, or breaking public key encryption. While this potential is real, quantum computers are best viewed as special purpose accelerators for specific problem classes, but they also have their limitations. Attempting to bring clarity to the fast growing field of quantum computing, I will describe the hardware and software architecture of quantum computers and discuss how they differ from conventional classical high performance computers. Based on this, I will attempt to dispel myths and hype surrounding the field and present a realistic assessment of the potential of these devices, and the specific application areas on which they are expected to have a large impact.
Matthias Troyer is a Principal Researcher in the Quantum Group of Microsoft. After receiving his PhD in 1994 from ETH Zurich, he spent time as postdoc at the University of Tokyo before returning to ETH Zurich. There he has been professor of Computational Physics until taking leave of absence to join Microsoft’s quantum computing program at the beginning of 2017.
Matthias is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a Trustee of the Aspen Center for Physics, and recipient of the Rahman Prize for Computational Physics of the American Physical Society. His research interests span from high performance computing and library design for scientific computing to the simulations of quantum devices and island ecosystems. At Microsoft he now works on various aspects of quantum computing, from numerical modeling of quantum hardware to quantum software architecture, new applications for quantum computers, and customer engagements.
In this video from PASC17, Matthias Troyer from Microsoft Research presents: Towards Quantum High Performance Computing.
Registration is now open for SC18, which takes place Nov. 11-16 in Dallas.
