talk: Quantum Knots and Quantum Braids

Quantum Knots and Quantum Braids

Dr. Samuel J. Lomonaco
University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Noon-1:00pm Friday, March 9, 2012, MP 401

In this talk, we show how to reconstruct knot theory in such a way that it s intimately related to quantum physics. In particular, we give a blueprint for creating a quantum system that has the dynamic behavior of a closed knotted piece of rope moving in 3-space. Within this framework, knot invariants become physically measurable quantum observables, knot moves become unitary transformations, with knot dynamics determined by Schroedinger's equation. The same approach can also be applied to the theory of braids. Toward the end of the talk, we briefly look at possible applications to superfluid vortices and to topological quantum computing in optical lattices.

Professor Lomonaco received his PhD in Mathematics from Princeton University. He has been a full professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) since 1985, serving as Founding Chair of the CS Department 1985 to 1991.