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Quantum Mathematics

tensor decompositions and tensor-based algorithms; operator theory (transfer operators); numerical methods PDE; data-driven and kernel-based techniques; Bell nonlocality; entanglement quantification

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What we are interested in

Exploring the multifaceted aspects of quantum computation and quantum information theory. The goal is to the develop application of new algorithms and quantum-inspired methods for solving problems in various fields such as dynamical systems, Bell nonlocality, and supervised learning. Our research encompasses a wide range of topics and utilizes a variety of mathematical tools, including but not limited to: tensor decompositions and tensor-based algorithms, convex optimization methods, operator theory (in particular transfer operators), numerical methods for partial differential equations, data-driven and kernel-based techniques.

Through our work, we aim to advance knowledge and understanding in the field of quantum science and technology by developing mathematically profound methods which exploit the potential of quantum mechanical concepts.

🧑‍🎓 Members

Sebastian Pokutta
Department Head
pokutta (at) zib.de
Patrick Gelß
Research Area Lead
gelss (at) zib.de
Arwed Steuer
steuer (at) zib.de
Steven-Marian Stengl
stengl (at) zib.de
Sebastian Knebel
knebel (at) zib.de
Sébastien Designolle
designolle (at) zib.de
Liu Ye-Chao
liu (at) zib.de
Nguyen Hanh Dung Jung
nguyen (at) zib.de
Alejandro Ramos
ramos (at) zib.de

🔬 Projects

Entanglement Detection Via Frank-Wolfe Algorithms

We will apply a Frank-Wolfe-based approach for separability certification and entanglement detection of multipartite quantum states. The method will be further exploited to derive entanglement witnesses in the case, often encountered in experiments, of incomplete characterisation of the quantum state.

MATH+ AA2-19
Jan 2024 to Dec 2025
3
2

Quantum Algorithms for Optimization

Computational devices and quantum mechanics revolutionized the 20th century. Quantum computation merges these fields to solve optimization problems faster than classical computers. This project aims to develop new quantum algorithms for general-purpose and specific applications, including optimization, mixed-integer programs, and uses in machine learning, logistics, big data, and physics. We will explore quantum dynamic programming, graph sparsification, and QAOA-type algorithms for small quantum computers.

QOPT
May 2022 to Apr 2025
2
9

Approximating Combinatorial Optimization Problems

This project will explore to what extent near-term quantum computing may potentially provide better approximations to combinatorial optimization problems, bringing together expertise from quantum computing and applied mathematics. It is a collaborative effort within the Einstein Research Unit on Quantum Devices, involving the Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin), the Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics (WIAS), and the Zuse Institute Berlin (ZIB).

ACOP
Jan 2022 to Dec 2024
3

Quantum Computing and Integer Programming

Quantum computing has the potential to occupy an important position in the field of computing in the long term. In the short to medium term, however, we can expect the emergence of so-called "Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum algorithms" and "Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithms" in an initial phase. These algorithms can often solve a special subclass of problems approximately and very quickly using quantum computing and are significantly easier to implement technically. In this pilot project, a workflow will be tested, ranging from the design of hybrid quantum-classical algorithms to their simulation using quantum simulators on HPC hardware.

QCIP
Apr 2021 to Dec 2021
3

💬 Talks and posters

Conference and workshop talks

Jul 2024
Bell and Grothendieck Meet Frank-Wolfe by Sébastien Designolle
25th International Symposium on Mathematical Programming (ISMP), Montréal
Feb 2024
Fredholm Integral Equations for the Training of Shallow Neural Networks by Patrick Gelß
7th SIAM conference on uncertainty quantification (SIAM UQ)
Sep 2023
Fredholm Integral Equations for the Training of Shallow Neural Networks by Patrick Gelß
7th ZIB-IMI-ISM-NUS-RIKEN-MODAL Workshop, Berlin
Jun 2023
Fredholm Integral Equations for the Training of Shallow Neural Networks by Patrick Gelß
workshop on quantum computation and optimization, Berlin
Jun 2023
Improved Local Models and New Bell Inequalities by Sébastien Designolle
workshop on quantum computation and optimization, Berlin
Mar 2023
Improved Local Models and New Bell Inequalities Via Frank-Wolfe Algorithms by Sébastien Designolle
15th annual meeting photonic devices, Berlin
Sep 2022
Low-rank Tensor Decompositions of Quantum Circuits by Patrick Gelß
6th ZIB-IMI-ISM-NUS-RIKEN-MODAL Workshop, Tokyo / Fukuoka
May 2022
Low-rank Tensor Decompositions of Quantum Circuits by Patrick Gelß
3rd workshop on quantum algorithms and applications, Brussels

Research seminar talks

Dec 2024
What Are the Most Incompatible Quantum Measurements? by Sébastien Designolle
QINFO seminar, Lyon
Nov 2024
Bell and Grothendieck Meet Frank-Wolfe by Sébastien Designolle
ICFO seminar, Castelldefels
Nov 2024
Bell and Grothendieck Meet Frank-Wolfe by Sébastien Designolle
Valladolid seminar, Valladolid
Nov 2024
What Are the Most Incompatible Quantum Measurements? by Sébastien Designolle
IT seminar, Lisbon
Oct 2024
Bell and Grothendieck Meet Frank-Wolfe by Sébastien Designolle
quantum information & quantum computing working group seminar, Warsaw
Nov 2023
Frank-Wolfe Algorithms for Bell Nonlocality by Sébastien Designolle
IRIF seminar, Paris
Nov 2023
Frank-Wolfe Algorithms for Bell Nonlocality by Sébastien Designolle
QAT seminar, Paris
Nov 2023
Frank-Wolfe Algorithms for Bell Nonlocality by Sébastien Designolle
SIERRA seminar, Paris
Nov 2023
Frank-Wolfe Algorithms for Bell Nonlocality by Sébastien Designolle
PhiQus seminar, Palaiseau
Nov 2023
Frank-Wolfe Algorithms for Bell Nonlocality by Sébastien Designolle
LIP6 seminar, Paris
Oct 2023
Frank-Wolfe Algorithms for Bell Nonlocality by Sébastien Designolle
QINFO seminar, Lyon
Jul 2023
Fredholm Integral Equations for the Training of Shallow Neural Networks by Patrick Gelß
IBM NOIP seminar, Berlin
Jun 2023
Fredholm Integral Equations for the Training of Shallow Neural Networks by Patrick Gelß
DESY CQTA seminar, Zeuthen
Mar 2023
Improved Local Models and New Bell Inequalities Via Frank-Wolfe Algorithms by Sébastien Designolle
JQIT seminar, Krakow
Feb 2023
Improved Local Models and New Bell Inequalities Via Frank-Wolfe Algorithms by Sébastien Designolle
Atomki seminar, Debrecen
Feb 2023
Improved Local Models and New Bell Inequalities Via Frank-Wolfe Algorithms by Sébastien Designolle
IQOQI seminar, Vienna
Oct 2022
The Tensor-train Format and Its Applications by Patrick Gelß
Tensor Learning Team Seminar
Aug 2022
Semidefinite Programming and Incompatibility of Quantum Measurements by Sébastien Designolle
AISST seminar, Berlin

📝 Publications and preprints

  1. Abbas, A., Ambainis, A., Augustino, B., Bärtschi, A., Buhrman, H., Coffrin, C., Cortiana, G., Dunjko, V., Egger, D. J., Elmegreen, B. G., Franco, N., Fratini, F., Fuller, B., Gacon, J., Gonciulea, C., Gribling, S., Gupta, S., Hadfield, S., Heese, R., … Zoufal, C. (2024). Challenges and Opportunities in Quantum Optimization. Nature Reviews Physics. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42254-024-00770-9 [arXiv]
    [BibTeX]
    @article{2023_AmiraEtAl_Quantumoptimization,
      year = {2024},
      journal = {Nature Reviews Physics},
      month = sep,
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s42254-024-00770-9},
      archiveprefix = {arXiv},
      eprint = {2312.02279},
      primaryclass = {quant-ph},
      author = {Abbas, Amira and Ambainis, Andris and Augustino, Brandon and Bärtschi, Andreas and Buhrman, Harry and Coffrin, Carleton and Cortiana, Giorgio and Dunjko, Vedran and Egger, Daniel J. and Elmegreen, Bruce G. and Franco, Nicola and Fratini, Filippo and Fuller, Bryce and Gacon, Julien and Gonciulea, Constantin and Gribling, Sander and Gupta, Swati and Hadfield, Stuart and Heese, Raoul and Kircher, Gerhard and Kleinert, Thomas and Koch, Thorsten and Korpas, Georgios and Lenk, Steve and Marecek, Jakub and Markov, Vanio and Mazzola, Guglielmo and Mensa, Stefano and Mohseni, Naeimeh and Nannicini, Giacomo and O'Meara, Corey and Peña Tapia, Elena and Pokutta, Sebastian and Proissl, Manuel and Rebentrost, Patrick and Sahin, Emre and Symons, Benjamin C. B. and Tornow, Sabine and Valls, Victor and Woerner, Stefan and Wolf-Bauwens, Mira L. and Yard, Jon and Yarkoni, Sheir and Zechiel, Dirk and Zhuk, Sergiy and Zoufal, Christa},
      title = {Challenges and Opportunities in Quantum Optimization}
    }
  2. Designolle, S., Vértesi, T., and Pokutta, S. (2024). Better Bounds on Grothendieck Constants of Finite Orders. [arXiv]
    [BibTeX]
    @misc{2023_DesignolleVertesiPokutta_Grothendieckconstants,
      archiveprefix = {arXiv},
      eprint = {2409.03739},
      primaryclass = {math.OC},
      year = {2024},
      author = {Designolle, Sébastien and Vértesi, Tamás and Pokutta, Sebastian},
      title = {Better Bounds on Grothendieck Constants of Finite Orders}
    }
  3. Gelß, P., Issagali, A., and Kornhuber, R. (2024). Fredholm Integral Equations for Function Approximation and the Training of Neural Networks. SIAM Journal on Mathematics of Data Science. DOI: 10.1137/23M156642X [URL] [arXiv]
    [BibTeX]
    @article{2023_GelssIssagaliKornhuber_Fredholmneuralnetworks,
      year = {2024},
      journal = {SIAM Journal on Mathematics of Data Science},
      doi = {10.1137/23M156642X},
      url = {https://epubs.siam.org/doi/abs/10.1137/23M156642X},
      archiveprefix = {arXiv},
      eprint = {2303.05262},
      primaryclass = {math.NA},
      author = {Gelß, Patrick and Issagali, Aizhan and Kornhuber, Ralf},
      title = {Fredholm Integral Equations for Function Approximation and the Training of Neural Networks}
    }
  4. Stengl, S.-M., Gelß, P., Klus, S., and Pokutta, S. (2024). Existence and Uniqueness of Solutions of the Koopman–von Neumann Equation on Bounded Domains. Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical. DOI: 10.1088/1751-8121/ad6f7d [URL] [arXiv]
    [BibTeX]
    @article{2023_StenglGelssKlusPokutta_Koopmanvonneumann,
      year = {2024},
      journal = {Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical},
      doi = {10.1088/1751-8121/ad6f7d},
      url = {https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1751-8121/ad6f7d},
      archiveprefix = {arXiv},
      eprint = {2306.13504},
      primaryclass = {math.AP},
      author = {Stengl, Steven-Marian and Gelß, Patrick and Klus, Stefan and Pokutta, Sebastian},
      title = {Existence and Uniqueness of Solutions of the Koopman--von Neumann Equation on Bounded Domains}
    }
  5. Stengl, S.-M. (2024). An Alternative Formulation of the Quantum Phase Estimation Using Projection-based Tensor Decompositions. Quantum Information Processing, 23. DOI: 10.1007/s11128-024-04347-4 [URL] [arXiv]
    [BibTeX]
    @article{2023_Stengl_Quantumphaseestimation,
      year = {2024},
      journal = {Quantum Information Processing},
      volume = {23},
      doi = {10.1007/s11128-024-04347-4},
      url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11128-024-04347-4},
      archiveprefix = {arXiv},
      eprint = {2303.05894},
      primaryclass = {quant-ph},
      author = {Stengl, Steven-Marian},
      title = {An Alternative Formulation of the Quantum Phase Estimation Using Projection-based Tensor Decompositions}
    }
  6. Designolle, S., Vértesi, T., and Pokutta, S. (2024). Symmetric Multipartite Bell Inequalities Via Frank-Wolfe Algorithms. Physics Review A. [arXiv]
    [BibTeX]
    @article{2024_DesignolleVertesiPokutta_SymmetricBellinequalities,
      year = {2024},
      journal = {Physics Review A},
      archiveprefix = {arXiv},
      eprint = {2310.20677},
      primaryclass = {quant-ph},
      author = {Designolle, Sébastien and Vértesi, Tamás and Pokutta, Sebastian},
      title = {Symmetric Multipartite Bell Inequalities Via Frank-Wolfe Algorithms}
    }
  7. Liu, Y.-C., and Shang, J. (2024). Beating the Optimal Verification of Entangled States Via Collective Strategies. [arXiv]
    [BibTeX]
    @misc{2024_LiuShang_Collectiveverification,
      archiveprefix = {arXiv},
      eprint = {2410.00554},
      primaryclass = {quant-ph},
      year = {2024},
      author = {Liu, Ye-Chao and Shang, Jiangwei},
      title = {Beating the Optimal Verification of Entangled States Via Collective Strategies}
    }
  8. Designolle, S., Iommazzo, G., Besançon, M., Knebel, S., Gelß, P., and Pokutta, S. (2023). Improved Local Models and New Bell Inequalities Via Frank-Wolfe Algorithms. Physical Review Research, 5(4). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.043059 [arXiv] [slides] [code]
    [BibTeX]
    @article{2023_DesignolleEtAl_LocalmodelsBellinequalities,
      year = {2023},
      journal = {Physical Review Research},
      month = oct,
      volume = {5},
      number = {4},
      doi = {10.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.043059},
      archiveprefix = {arXiv},
      eprint = {2302.04721},
      primaryclass = {quant-ph},
      author = {Designolle, Sébastien and Iommazzo, Gabriele and Besançon, Mathieu and Knebel, Sebastian and Gelß, Patrick and Pokutta, Sebastian},
      title = {Improved Local Models and New Bell Inequalities Via Frank-Wolfe Algorithms},
      code = {https://github.com/ZIB-IOL/BellPolytopes.jl},
      slides = {https://www.pokutta.com/slides/20230808-tokyo-bell.pdf}
    }
  9. Gelß, P., Klein, R., Matera, S., and Schmidt, B. (2023). Quantum Dynamics of Coupled Excitons and Phonons in Chain-like Systems: Tensor Train Approaches and Higher-order Propagators. [arXiv]
    [BibTeX]
    @misc{2023_GelssKleinMateraSchmidt_QuantumdynamicsTensortrain,
      archiveprefix = {arXiv},
      eprint = {2302.03568},
      primaryclass = {quant-ph},
      year = {2023},
      author = {Gelß, Patrick and Klein, Rupert and Matera, Sebastian and Schmidt, Burkhard},
      title = {Quantum Dynamics of Coupled Excitons and Phonons in Chain-like Systems: Tensor Train Approaches and Higher-order Propagators}
    }
  10. Klus, S., and Gelß, P. (2023). Continuous Optimization Methods for the Graph Isomorphism Problem. [arXiv]
    [BibTeX]
    @misc{2023_KlusGelss_Continuousgraphisomorphism,
      archiveprefix = {arXiv},
      eprint = {2311.16912},
      primaryclass = {cs.DM},
      year = {2023},
      author = {Klus, Stefan and Gelß, Patrick},
      title = {Continuous Optimization Methods for the Graph Isomorphism Problem}
    }
  11. Riedel, J., Gelß, P., Klein, R., and Schmidt, B. (2023). WaveTrain: A Python Package for Numerical Quantum Mechanics of Chain-like Systems Based on Tensor Trains. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 158(16), 164801. DOI: 10.1063/5.0147314 [URL] [arXiv]
    [BibTeX]
    @article{2023_RiedelGelssKleinSchmidt_Wavetrain,
      year = {2023},
      journal = {The Journal of Chemical Physics},
      volume = {158},
      number = {16},
      pages = {164801},
      doi = {10.1063/5.0147314},
      url = {https://pubs.aip.org/aip/jcp/article/158/16/164801/2887212/WaveTrain-A-Python-package-for-numerical-quantum},
      archiveprefix = {arXiv},
      eprint = {2302.03725},
      primaryclass = {quant-ph},
      author = {Riedel, Jerome and Gelß, Patrick and Klein, Rupert and Schmidt, Burkhard},
      title = {WaveTrain: A Python Package for Numerical Quantum Mechanics of Chain-like Systems Based on Tensor Trains}
    }
  12. Gelß, P., Klein, R., Matera, S., and Schmidt, B. (2022). Solving the Time-independent Schrödinger Equation for Chains of Coupled Excitons and Phonons Using Tensor Trains. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 156, 024109. DOI: 10.1063/5.0074948 [URL] [arXiv]
    [BibTeX]
    @article{2021_GelssKleinMateraSchmidt_Tensortrainschrdinger,
      year = {2022},
      journal = {The Journal of Chemical Physics},
      volume = {156},
      pages = {024109},
      doi = {10.1063/5.0074948},
      url = {https://pubs.aip.org/aip/jcp/article/156/2/024109/2839835/Solving-the-time-independent-Schrodinger-equation},
      archiveprefix = {arXiv},
      eprint = {2109.15104},
      primaryclass = {physics.comp-ph},
      author = {Gelß, Patrick and Klein, Rupert and Matera, Sebastian and Schmidt, Burkhard},
      title = {Solving the Time-independent Schrödinger Equation for Chains of Coupled Excitons and Phonons Using Tensor Trains}
    }
  13. Gelß, P., Klus, S., Knebel, S., Shakibaei, Z., and Pokutta, S. (2022). Low-rank Tensor Decompositions of Quantum Circuits. [arXiv]
    [BibTeX]
    @misc{2022_GelssKlusShakibaeiPokutta_Lowranktensordecompositions,
      archiveprefix = {arXiv},
      eprint = {2205.09882},
      primaryclass = {quant-ph},
      year = {2022},
      author = {Gelß, Patrick and Klus, Stefan and Knebel, Sebastian and Shakibaei, Zarin and Pokutta, Sebastian},
      title = {Low-rank Tensor Decompositions of Quantum Circuits}
    }
  14. Nüske, F., Gelß, P., Klus, S., and Clementi, C. (2021). Tensor-based Computation of Metastable and Coherent Sets. Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, 427, 133018. DOI: 10.1016/j.physd.2021.133018 [URL] [arXiv]
    [BibTeX]
    @article{2019_NueskeGelssKlusClementi_Tensorkoopman,
      year = {2021},
      journal = {Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena},
      volume = {427},
      pages = {133018},
      doi = {10.1016/j.physd.2021.133018},
      url = {https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167278921001755},
      archiveprefix = {arXiv},
      eprint = {1908.04741},
      primaryclass = {math.NA},
      author = {Nüske, Feliks and Gelß, Patrick and Klus, Stefan and Clementi, Cecilia},
      title = {Tensor-based Computation of Metastable and Coherent Sets}
    }
  15. Gelß, P., Klus, S., Schuster, I., and Schütte, C. (2021). Feature Space Approximation for Kernel-based Supervised Learning. Knowledge-Based Systems, 221, 106935. DOI: 10.1016/j.knosys.2021.106935 [URL] [arXiv]
    [BibTeX]
    @article{2020_GelssKlusSchusterSchuette_Featureapproximation,
      year = {2021},
      journal = {Knowledge-Based Systems},
      volume = {221},
      pages = {106935},
      doi = {10.1016/j.knosys.2021.106935},
      url = {https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0950705121001982},
      archiveprefix = {arXiv},
      eprint = {2011.12651},
      primaryclass = {stat.ML},
      author = {Gelß, Patrick and Klus, Stefan and Schuster, Ingmar and Schütte, Christof},
      title = {Feature Space Approximation for Kernel-based Supervised Learning}
    }
  16. Klus, S., Gelß, P., Nüske, F., and Noé, F. (2021). Symmetric and Antisymmetric Kernels for Machine Learning Problems in Quantum Physics and Chemistry. Machine Learning: Science and Technology, 2(4), 18958. DOI: 10.1088/2632-2153/ac14ad [URL] [arXiv]
    [BibTeX]
    @article{2021_KlusGelssNueskeNoe_Symmetricantisymmetrickernels,
      year = {2021},
      journal = {Machine Learning: Science and Technology},
      volume = {2},
      number = {4},
      pages = {18958},
      doi = {10.1088/2632-2153/ac14ad},
      url = {https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2632-2153/ac14ad},
      archiveprefix = {arXiv},
      eprint = {2103.17233},
      primaryclass = {quant-ph},
      author = {Klus, Stefan and Gelß, Patrick and Nüske, Feliks and Noé, Frank},
      title = {Symmetric and Antisymmetric Kernels for Machine Learning Problems in Quantum Physics and Chemistry}
    }