Our next Physics Colloquium will take place onJune 22, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. sharp. Prof. Stephan Rachel is a professor of theoretical condensed matter physics at the University of Melbourne. He will give a talk on“Topological Quantum Computing in the Real World.”
Abstract by Prof. Rachel:
Fault tolerance is one of the central challenges in quantum computing. A promising path toward intrinsically protected quantum information processing is topological quantum computing, based on the braiding and fusion of anyons. Anyons are exotic quasiparticles—neither bosons nor fermions—that can emerge in topological superconductors and exhibit non-trivial exchange statistics. These statistics provide a natural framework for encoding and manipulating quantum information in a way that is inherently robust against local perturbations.
In this talk, I will introduce the physical and mathematical principles underlying topological quantum computation and discuss how anyonic degrees of freedom can be realized in realistic systems. Using explicit time-evolution protocols, I will demonstrate how braiding operations involving multiple anyons can generate the Clifford gate set.
In the second part of the talk, I will discuss the limitations and practical challenges facing topological quantum computers. Despite their reputation for fault tolerance, these systems are not generally immune to errors. I will discuss several important error mechanisms that arise in realistic settings and, for some of them, present theoretical ideas for mitigating their effects.
Prof. Dr. Ilya Eremin gives an introduction to the lecture.
The Department cordially Department all interested parties. The event will take place in Lecture Hall HNB.
Photo: © Depositphotos / ArtemisDiana