Seth Lloyd talks to Jim about the fundamentals of quantum physics, quantum computing, seeing the universe as a quantum computer, and much more...

Seth Lloyd starts this episode by talking to Jim about the fundamentals of quantum physics: the quantum vs classical world, quantum interpretations, causality & randomness, the many-worlds theory, entanglement, and coherence. They then go on to talk about the emerging field of quantum computing: its incredible power & potential impacts on encryption, simulation vs other computation types, impacts on linear algebraic problems & machine learning, computational substrates, superconduction & topological systems, seeing the universe as a quantum computer & why it's so complex, quantum gravity, and much more.

Episode Transcript

Mentions & Recommendations

Seth's book, Programming the Universe

Seth Lloyd is Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),  director of the WM Keck Center for Extreme Quantum Information Theory at MIT, director of the Program in Quantum Information at the Institute for Scientific Interchange, and Miller Fellow at the Santa Fe Institute. He earned his A.B. degree in Physics from Harvard University, his Masters of Advanced Study in Mathematics and M.Phil. in History and Philosophy of Science from Cambridge University, and his Ph.D. in Physics from Rockefeller University.

Seth teaches and performs research in quantum information theory and complex systems. His research focuses on the role of information in physical and mechanical systems, with an emphasis on quantum mechanical systems. He was the first to propose a technologically feasible design for a quantum computer, and has worked with groups at MIT and other institutions around the world to construct and operate quantum computers using quantum optics, nuclear magnetic resonance, quantum dots, and superconducting systems.