Seminar: Quantum Computing Systems: Toward Efficient and Scalable Quantum Computation
Hezi Zhang
PhD Candidate
Computer Science and Engineering
University of California, San Diego
Monday, February 2, 2026
9:00 - 10:15 a.m.
Academic Building One, Room 3740
Abstract
Quantum computers use the principles of quantum mechanics to perform computation in a way fundamentally different from traditional ("classical") algorithms. This new computational paradigm shows great promise in revolutionizing our ability to understand and solve complex problems in physics, optimization, and learning. However, establishing the precise conditions under which quantum algorithms outperform classical ones is a surprisingly nuanced question. In this talk, I will show how the complexity of typical instances of problems can be understood using ideas from statistical physics, and through this new perspective present a framework for understanding the relative performance of quantum versus classical algorithms in optimization and simulation.
Biography
Hezi Zhang is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). She received her M.S. in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology (GT) and her B.S. in Physics from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). Her current research interests lie in quantum computing architecture and compiler optimization, including supporting scalable quantum computing and exploring different quantum computing paradigms.