We are a theoretical and computational physics lab in the Department of Physics and Institut Quantique of Université de Sherbrooke. Our research lies at the crossroads of quantum matter and computational physics. We build and study models of quantum systems to uncover and understand exciting phenomena. We also develop numerical methods to solve problems in physics and across disciplines, particularly in relation to quantum information and artificial intelligence.

NOW HIRING: There are openings in the lab for interns, MSc and PhD students, and postdocs; if you are interested, get in touch.

Correlations & Topology in Quantum Matter
Overview

Quantum states of matter are sources of striking physical phenomena and a launchpad for technological innovation. In topological materials, for example, electrons acquire properties that can be described in terms of the mathematical field of topology. These topological properties are observed in experiments and can potentially power better electronics. Unconventional quantum states often arise in correlated quantum systems, in which competing inter-particle interactions give rise to collective behavior that is fundamentally different from that of a collection of independent degrees of freedom.


Our work

We study topological and correlated quantum states of matter in order to elucidate their fundamental properties. Systems of interest include quantum spin liquids, fractional quantum Hall models, and topological semimetals. We also work on predicting and explaining experimental observations in these systems.


Selected publications
Modelling & Simulation of Quantum Systems
Overview

The simulation of quantum systems is a basic step in the development of quantum technologies. Modelling quantum dynamics, in particular, is essential in certifying and benchmarking quantum computation. Significant efforts are also invested in understanding and controlling the dynamics of quasiparticles in quantum matter. This is intricately related to desired quantum material and device properties and can unlock new functionalities in the laboratory.


Our work

We build models that capture important aspects of quantum many-body physics and develop theory and numerical methods to solve them. We focus on effects that arise due to quantum entanglement, particularly as it relates to quantum computation and its simulation on classical computers. We also model dynamics in correlated quantum systems, such as systems with fractional quasiparticle excitations or with many-body constraints in their kinetics. This allows us to interpret or predict their responses in experiments, such as inelastic scattering, at zero and finite temperatures.


Selected publications
Physics-Inspired Methods Across Disciplines
Overview

Intuition from theoretical physics often fuels progress in other fields. Quantum information, for example, was born out of the vision of employing principles of quantum mechanics to overcome the limitations of ordinary computers. Another important ongoing synergy exists between statistical physics and computational problems that arise in artificial intelligence. Research in these directions has created a growing interdisciplinary space between physics and computer science, with the ultimate goal of addressing real-world problems.


Our work

We employ our expertise in theory, models and methods for quantum many-body systems to solve problems across disciplines. We work on computational challenges related to artificial intelligence, such as combinatorial optimization and model counting. We are also interested in modelling and simulating quantum circuits, algorithms, and error correction. We leverage quantum mechanical reasoning and physical principles to tackle the above problems as efficiently as possible, even on classical computers.


Selected publications
Research
Correlations & Topology in Quantum Matter
Correlations & Topology
in Quantum Matter
Modelling & Simulation of Quantum Systems
Modelling & Simulation
of Quantum Systems
Physics-inspired Methods Across Disciplines
Physics-inspired Methods Across Disciplines
People
Stefanos Kourtis

STEFANOS KOURTIS   Assistant professor

Mojde Fadaie

MOJDE FADAIE   Research manager

Roya Radgohar

ROYA RADGOHAR   Postdoctoral scholar

Ayana Sarkar

AYANA SARKAR   Postdoctoral scholar

Tymoteusz Tula

TYMOTEUSZ TULA   Postdoctoral scholar

Muhammad Zubair

MUHAMMAD ZUBAIR   Postdoctoral scholar

Aleksandr Berezutskii

ALEKSANDR BEREZUTSKII   PhD student

Jeremy Côté

JEREMY CÔTÉ   PhD student

Martin Schnee

MARTIN SCHNEE   PhD student

Pierre-Alexandre Dufrêne

PIERRE-ALEXANDRE DUFRÊNE   PhD student

Jérémie Gince

JÉRÉMIE GINCE   PhD student

Omar Chikhar

OMAR CHIKHAR   MSc student

Benjamin Lanthier

BENJAMIN LANTHIER   MSc student

Antoine Carrier

ANTOINE CARRIER   MSc student

Julien Drapeau

JULIEN DRAPEAU   MSc student

ALUMNI

Maxime Tremblay (PhD)

Nouédyn Baspin (MSc)

Samuel Desrosiers (MSc)