Current & Future Programs

2007

FRONTIERS IN QUANTUM COMPUTATION

This program, beginning with its opening symposium, will focus on three aspects of realizing quantum computers: first, the interface between quantum algorithms and physics (can classes of quantum algorithms be mapped into problems interesting to physicists?); second, the design of practical quantum computing hardware and the specialization of algorithms to that hardware; and, third, the possible realization of the "topological quantum computing" approach using quantum many-body systems exhibiting "topological phases."

PROGRAM ORGANIZERS: Bill Brinkman, Robert Calderbank and Shivaji Sondhi

2008

THE BIG BANG AND BEYOND

Is the big bang the beginning of space and time? Does it make sense to talk about what the universe was like before the big bang? How does string theory resolve the cosmic singularity problem? Are there ways to use observations and experiments to test what happened during the very early instants when the temperature approached the Planck scale and quantum gravity/string effects become important? In recent years, an increasing number of theoretical physicists in general relativity, cosmology and string theory have been led to consider these issues for different reasons and using different techniques. This program will bring together the leading theorists exploring the different points of view to compare and contrast their theoretical methods and to stimulate new approaches for addressing this critical issue.

PROGRAM ORGANIZERS: Nima Arkani-Hamed, Igor Klebanov, David Spergel, Paul Steinhardt, Matt Strassler, Herman Verlinde