From Uncertainty to Computation: The Quantum Quest

We'll start with a brief introduction to the basic elements of quantum mechanics. Then, we'll take a quick detour into classical computing to see how it works—and how quantum features can push things even further. This naturally leads us to a new (and possibly powerful) way of thinking about computation: quantum computing.

When you think of quantum computing, you might imagine something decades away, locked away in some fairy tale. But what if we told you quantum devices are already doing things no supercomputer can? Even without perfect, error-free quantum machines, researchers are finding clever ways to harness quantum effects - especially with light.
We will explore the world of photonic quantum computing, a field that uses particles of light to tackle complex problems. In particular, we’ll dive into Gaussian Boson Sampling - a mouthful of a name, but a fascinating demonstration of quantum advantage that’s already challenging classical limits.

The journey towards building universal, fault-tolerant quantum computers is long and challenging, but we have already seen so many breakthroughs! Around the world, research teams have pushed the boundaries of both quantum hardware and algorithm development.
In this talk, we will focus on some of the most exciting milestones achieved by companies such as Google, IBM, and Microsoft. We will also look ahead to the future of quantum computing, and address one of the biggest challenges: error mitigation.