Sign of the Times: Sign Problems in Quantum Physics
| Date/Time: | Tuesday, 05 Mar 2019 from 4:10 pm to 5:00 pm |
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| Location: | Phys 0003 |
| Phone: | 515-294-5441 |
| Channel: | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Actions: | Download iCal/vCal | Email Reminder |
Abstract
Quantum mechanics has allowed tremendous progress in the theoretical understanding of our universe. In this endeavor, computational Monte Carlo techniques have proved vital to extracting some properties of strongly-correlated materials and nuclear physics. Alas, sign problems----when a sampling distribution fails to be a well defined probability-- stymie these methods in systems like the high temperature superconductors, neutron stars, and the time evolution of particle scattering. In this talk, I discuss the origin of sign problems and the recent developments in complexification and quantum computing that are helping to address them.
Bio
I attended Kansas State University for undergrad in Physics and Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering before pursuing a PhD in Physics at Arizona State University under Richard Lebed studying True muonium on the Light-Front. After graduation, I took up my current position as a postdoc in the Nuclear Theory Group at the University of Maryland, College Park.