【T. D. Lee Colloquium No. 34】Quantum computing with photons and atoms

by Prof. Chao-Yang Lu (the University of Science and Technology of China)

Thursday 10 Sept 2026, 14:00 → 15:00 Asia/Shanghai

Tsung-Dao Lee Institute/N4F-N400 - meeting room (Tsung-Dao Lee Institute)

Host: Prof. Hong Ding (丁洪)

Abstract:
I will go through our recent efforts in my group using photons and atoms to build increasingly large-scale quantum computers and, in turn, how these early quantum computers can already be used for studies of fundamental problems in mathematics, quantum physics, and condensed matter physics. We use the protocol of Gaussian boson sampling to demonstrate quantum computational advantage, with up to 3050 detected photons. We develop an AI-enabled constant-time-overhead rearrangement protocol to prepare a 2024 defect-free atomic array. Using a single atom trapped in an optical tweezer and cooled to the motional ground state in three dimensions, we faithfully realize the Einstein-Bohr recoiling-slit gedankenexperiment tunable at the quantum limit. Based on a bottom-up quantum engineering approach, we experimentally created the fractional quantum Hall state using strongly interacting photons. We further use the quantum computing platform to rule out a real-value description of standard formalism of quantum theory.

Bio:
Chao-Yang Lu, Chair Professor in Physics at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). He completed his Bachelor’s degree and PhD degree in Physics at USTC and the University of Cambridge. He has been appointed as the Chairman of World Association of Young Scientists since 2024. His current research interest includes quantum foundation, quantum computation, solid-state quantum photonics, quantum teleportation, superconducting circuits, and tweezer atom arrays. He is the author of over 200 papers in major research journals which have attracted 44000 citations so far. His work has been selected as by Physics World as “Breakthrough of the Year” in 2015, by APS Physics as one of the top ten “Highlights of the Year” in 2021, 2022 and 2025, and by UNESCO as “World’s top 10 digital innovation technologies” in 2021. He is an OSA/Optica/APS Fellow, and a recipient of the EPS Fresnel Prize, AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize, Nishina Asian Award, IUPAP-ICO Young Scientist Prize in Optics, OSA Adolph Lomb Medal, APS Rolf Landauer and Charles H. Bennett Award in Quantum Computing, CLEO James P. Gordon Memorial Speakership, He-Liang-He-Li Prize, IEEE Quantum Electronics Award, and OCPA Achievement in Asia Award. He serves as the Founding General Secretary for the Micius Science & Technology Foundation and the Micius Quantum Prize since 2018, the Divisional Associate Editor for Physical Review Letters, and the Editorial Board Member for Applied Physics Reviews, ACS Photonics, and Quantum Science and Technology.