Quantum Error Correction Codes as Exotic Condensed Matter Systems

With the advent of the infamous Toric Code, discovered almost 30 years ago by Prof. Alexei Kitaev, the field of quantum error correction blossomed into its modern form. In this introductory seminar, I will explain how a large class of promising Quantum Error Correction codes, topological stabilizer codes, can be viewed as Topologically Ordered Quantum Phases of Matter (one hosting anyonic excitations as its quasiparticles). We will primarily focus on two best-known topological stabilizer code families: the Toric Codes and Color Codes.

Short bio:
Paweł Rykała earned his Master’s Degree in theoretical physics from Jagiellonian University in 2024. For most of his studies Paweł was involved and interested in the various aspects of high energy physics; primarily in problems connected with quantum gravity and geometric and topological aspects of non-perturbative approaches to QFT.
He first came in contact with quantum information science under the influence of Prof. Karol Życzkowski. More recently he developed interest in topological quantum computation and error correction, and their connection to quantum matter. This resulted in him earning the opportunity to intern at the quantum start-up company BEIT in Krakow.