Scientists Meet Scientists – TUM-IAS Wednesday Coffee Talk by Prof. Roberto Giuntini on “When is a Quantum Computer Really Quantum?”
Events, WCT |
On 29 April 2026, Prof. Dr. Roberto Giuntini (Department of Education, Psychology and Philosophy, University of Cagliari) will talk about “When is a Quantum Computer Really Quantum?”.
Abstract: If we build a machine with qubits and run quantum circuits on it, does that automatically make it genuinely quantum? Or how do we distinguish real quantum resources from classical simulation and noise?
In this talk, I approach this question through the lens of nonlocality. Bell- and Mermin-type inequalities, originally developed in the foundations of physics, provide operational criteria to detect genuinely quantum correlations. I will show how such tests can be transformed into practical benchmarking tools for today’s Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) devices.
In particular, I will discuss recent experiments on the IQM superconducting processor and the AQT trapped-ion system at the Leibniz Rechenzentrum (LRZ). These platforms allow us to explore where classical correlations end and genuinely nonlocal quantum behaviour begins.
Benchmarking a quantum computer, I argue, is not just about performance metrics. It is about identifying which structural features of quantum theory — entanglement and nonlocality — are truly realized in hardware.
Date: April 29, 2026
Time: 13:00 CET (until approx. 14:00)
Location: online
Registration: The TUM-IAS Wednesday Coffee talks are held online via Microsoft Teams. To register and to receive the Teams link, please send an email to events@ias.tum.de.
THE TUM-IAS WEDNESDAY COFFEE TALKS
Every Wednesday after lunch, it's all about a new topic - current research highlights at TUM, insights into the work of our Fellows from all over the world, sometimes even topics not usually found at TUM, such as history or theology.
The talks held online start every Wednesday during TUM lecture time at 13:00 CE(S)T. Everyone is welcome - TUM researchers of all levels, students, visiting scholars, and anyone interested!
Would you like to receive regular updates on the TUM-IAS Wednesday Coffee Talk and the online link? Just send a short note to events@ias.tum.de.
An overview of upcoming and past TUM-IAS Wednesday Coffee Talks can be found at the TUM-IAS Wednesday Coffee Talk Overview.