Theoretical insights such as Shor's factoring algorithm have established the enormous potential of computing technology based on the laws of quantum mechanics. This prompts two questions: ``Can we build a quantum computer?", and, ``Once built, what shall we do with it (apart from breaking crypto-systems)?". As these questions make clear, Quantum Information spans many fields ranging from materials science to computer science and mathematics. In this workshop we will link the progress in solid-state quantum matter with the vision to implement a quantum computer.

Quantum Computation with Quantum Matter. In the last decade, laboratories world-wide explore the unique properties of quantum matter, ranging from individual photons to arrays of Josephson junctions. We will address the following questions:

• What is quantum matter and how does it help to build a quantum computer?
• How can quantum gates and memory be implemented in quantum matter?
• Which is the most promising technique to pursue for a full working quantum computer?--Where does quantum computing with linear optics, cold atoms and circuit QED stand today?

Also, we may view the understanding of properties of quantum matter an end rather than a means, and ask ``Can quantum computers, even non-universal ones, help us discover novel phases of quantum matter?''

Decoherence. In the real world, quantum systems are never completely isolated, but rather interact with their environment. As a consequence, entanglement in the system is progressively destroyed -- a process known as decoherence. This competition between entanglement and decoherence has an upside: one can fight decoherence by investing entanglement. This leads us to the theory of quantum codes and quantum error-correction. We address the following questions:

• What is the interplay between entanglement and decoherence?
• How can efficient quantum codes be implemented?
• Photons can be very long-lived and can be spatially extended. Ions can be detected with unit efficiency. Rydberg atoms show large interaction lengths. Which is the best system to eliminate unwanted decoherence?

• Mohammad Amin, Dwave Inc., Burnaby, BC, Canada,

• Alexandre Blais, Universite de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada,

• Yu-Ao Chen, University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China,

• Jens Eisert, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Germany,

• Jay Gambetta, IBM Yorktown Heights, NY, USA,

• Christian Gross, Max-Planck Insitute for Quantum Optics, Garching, Germany,

• Mark Johnson, Dwave Inc., Burnaby, BC, Canada,

• Andrea Morello, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

• Vahid Sandoghdar, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Erlangen, Germany,

• Mike Thewalt, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada,

• Joerg Wrachtrup, Max-Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, Germany

Contact: Maria Pylaeva / qi13_qmqi@phas.ubc.ca

This workshop is organized jointly by the Quantum Materials Institute of UBC and the Max-Planck Institute for Solid State Science Stuttgart, Germany.

Program committee:
Ilja Gerhardt, MPI Stuttgart, Germany
George Sawatzky, UBC Physics and Astronomy
Robert Raussendorf, UBC Physics and Astronomy
Jeff Young, UBC Physics and Astronomy
Joshua Folk, UBC Physics and Astronomy
Takamasa Momose, UBC Chemistry

July 1st is Canada day. Why don't you stay over the weekend?