HopeQNet · Hopfield neural network dynamics in open quantum systems
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2017-11-03 → 2019-11-02
- EU contribution
- €183,455
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Hopfield neural network dynamics in open quantum systems
In the last 10 years Machine Learning has been one of the hottest topic in Science because of its impact on many aspects of our society, with applications ranging from computer vision and time series prediction in Finance, to computer-aided diagnosis in Medicine. More recently, scientists (and physicists in particular) are wondering whether Machine Learning algorithms can benefit of the counterintuitive laws of Quantum Physics. This expectation is supported by the recent progresses in Quantum computing, which include, for instance, the achievement of quantum supremacy claimed by Google in October 2019. Unfortunately, Research in Quantum Machine Learning is only at the embryonal stage and many questions still need to be answered: which is the best theoretical framework to incorporate Machine Learning in the quantum domain? Can simple models of neural networks be implemented in quantum many-body systems/simulators? Do Machine Learning algorithms benefit in some way of quantum effects? During my project I contributed to this rapidly growing research field, working at the interface between Statistical Physics and Quantum many-body systems. The overall objectives of the action have been: (i) Formulating a solid theoretical framework based on open quantum systems to incorporate the unitary dynamics typical of quantum systems and the intrinsic non-linear evolution of neural networks, using the Hopfield model of associative memory as a benchmark. (ii) Investigating with the analytical and numerical methods of Statical and quantum many-body physics the dissipative dynamics of the open quantum Hopfield model defined in (i), also addressing possible experimental scenarios for its realisation in a lab. These concrete steps will contribute in the long term to understand whether Machine Learning can benefit of the laws of Quantum Physics and which platforms for quantum simulation are the most effective for this purpose.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Understanding how quantum effects can improve the performance of actual computing devices is an exciting and growing research area. However their role in neural networks (NNs), the complementary information process paradigm of classical computation is largely unexplored. The full translation of this paradigm at the quantum level ultimately requires to combine disordered spin-systems techniques, widely used in the study of classical NNs, together with the open quantum systems (OQSs) framework, in order to achieve their irreversible and non-linear dynamics. HopeQNet is the first step of an ambitious program that will lead, in a long term effort, to a new generation of quantum computing architectures, and is designed to deliver a first initial theoretical framework to investigate quantum effects in NNs, by considering the open quantum generalization of one of the most celebrated paradigms of NNs, the Hopfield model. This workhorse model will be simple and rich enough to: (i) apply well-developed tools from the theory of OQSs and establish a meaningful framework for a quantum NN; (ii) evaluate the potential gain due to quantum effects in this specific quantum NN architecture; (iii) engineering and modeling a proof-of-principle experiment of a Rydberg quantum simulator implementing it. HopeQNet combines the knowledge of the Applicant, who pioneered the use of disordered spin-systems in quantum many-body optical systems during his PhD (and will provide to the Host this unique expertise), together with the internationally recognized experience of the Supervisor in open quantum many-body systems and Rydberg atoms (who will mentor the Applicant throughout the training-through-research activity proposed here). This interdisciplinary combination of expertise is uniquely suited to carry out this first step of an ambitious 5-to-10 years program that will lead the Applicant to join one of the major EU institution working on quantum theory as an independent scientist.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM · NottinghamCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union