Zoe Holmes
@qzoeholmes.bsky.social
Quantum physicist. Assistant Prof at EPFL. Climber.
Hey we've just updated the arXiv version of our Majorana propagation paper
We now have end-to-end efficiency guarantees for a randomized model of an adaptVQE-like circuit
(Our error bounds here are way tighter than the ones for pauli prop and also use a new Markov chain based proof strategy)
We now have end-to-end efficiency guarantees for a randomized model of an adaptVQE-like circuit
(Our error bounds here are way tighter than the ones for pauli prop and also use a new Markov chain based proof strategy)
November 26, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Hey we've just updated the arXiv version of our Majorana propagation paper
We now have end-to-end efficiency guarantees for a randomized model of an adaptVQE-like circuit
(Our error bounds here are way tighter than the ones for pauli prop and also use a new Markov chain based proof strategy)
We now have end-to-end efficiency guarantees for a randomized model of an adaptVQE-like circuit
(Our error bounds here are way tighter than the ones for pauli prop and also use a new Markov chain based proof strategy)
Sit down & buckle up.
Behind this rather innocent title is the paper that caused the most fraught arguments of any of my career.
Are these arguments important? Probably not.
Am I going to tell you them anyway? Absolutely.
Here is the story of a rollercoaster of a paper.
🎢👇
Behind this rather innocent title is the paper that caused the most fraught arguments of any of my career.
Are these arguments important? Probably not.
Am I going to tell you them anyway? Absolutely.
Here is the story of a rollercoaster of a paper.
🎢👇
November 21, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Sit down & buckle up.
Behind this rather innocent title is the paper that caused the most fraught arguments of any of my career.
Are these arguments important? Probably not.
Am I going to tell you them anyway? Absolutely.
Here is the story of a rollercoaster of a paper.
🎢👇
Behind this rather innocent title is the paper that caused the most fraught arguments of any of my career.
Are these arguments important? Probably not.
Am I going to tell you them anyway? Absolutely.
Here is the story of a rollercoaster of a paper.
🎢👇
Reposted by Zoe Holmes
(I/III) We're excited to announce a new tenure track opening! The position is called 'quantum informatics' and is affiliated with our QUICK group within the CS+AI division at @jku.at 🇦🇹. Application deadline is November 30th, 2025: www.jku.at/en/the-jku/w...
October 21, 2025 at 1:47 PM
(I/III) We're excited to announce a new tenure track opening! The position is called 'quantum informatics' and is affiliated with our QUICK group within the CS+AI division at @jku.at 🇦🇹. Application deadline is November 30th, 2025: www.jku.at/en/the-jku/w...
Applications for the LANL quantum computing summer school are now open!
I recently got asked about the most important turning points of my career and without hesistation said the LANL summer school.
The first 1/3 of this video is me rambling about why it was so special: youtu.be/XjkHmtr_IT0?...
I recently got asked about the most important turning points of my career and without hesistation said the LANL summer school.
The first 1/3 of this video is me rambling about why it was so special: youtu.be/XjkHmtr_IT0?...
November 18, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Applications for the LANL quantum computing summer school are now open!
I recently got asked about the most important turning points of my career and without hesistation said the LANL summer school.
The first 1/3 of this video is me rambling about why it was so special: youtu.be/XjkHmtr_IT0?...
I recently got asked about the most important turning points of my career and without hesistation said the LANL summer school.
The first 1/3 of this video is me rambling about why it was so special: youtu.be/XjkHmtr_IT0?...
Reposted by Zoe Holmes
Our group is looking to hire postdocs to work at the intersection of quantum computing, quantum algorithms, quantum machine learning, simulation of many-body quantum systems and early-fault tolerant quantum computing
Apply here:
lanl.jobs/search/jobde...
Reposts appreciated!
Apply here:
lanl.jobs/search/jobde...
Reposts appreciated!
Quantum Computing and Early Fault-Tolerant Simulations at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory is Hiring! Search available jobs or submit your resume now by visiting this link. Please share with anyone you feel would be a great fit.
lanl.jobs
October 22, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Our group is looking to hire postdocs to work at the intersection of quantum computing, quantum algorithms, quantum machine learning, simulation of many-body quantum systems and early-fault tolerant quantum computing
Apply here:
lanl.jobs/search/jobde...
Reposts appreciated!
Apply here:
lanl.jobs/search/jobde...
Reposts appreciated!
Reposted by Zoe Holmes
A new article introduces a continuous-variable analogue of the Pauli propagation algorithm, called Displacement Propagation. Surprisingly, non-Gaussianity and symplectic coherence can make the system easier to simulate when noise is present.
arxiv.org/abs/2510.07264
arxiv.org/abs/2510.07264
When quantum resources backfire: Non-gaussianity and symplectic coherence in noisy bosonic circuits
Analyzing the impact of noise is of fundamental importance to understand the advantages provided by quantum systems. While the classical simulability of noisy discrete-variable systems is increasingly...
arxiv.org
October 9, 2025 at 8:41 PM
A new article introduces a continuous-variable analogue of the Pauli propagation algorithm, called Displacement Propagation. Surprisingly, non-Gaussianity and symplectic coherence can make the system easier to simulate when noise is present.
arxiv.org/abs/2510.07264
arxiv.org/abs/2510.07264
Among todays mad arxiv overflow is our preprint:
"When quantum resources backfire: Non-gaussianity and symplectic coherence in noisy bosonic circuits"
We introduce a path propagation classical simulation alg for bosonic circuits
And find a funky interplay between quantum resources and noise
🧵👇
"When quantum resources backfire: Non-gaussianity and symplectic coherence in noisy bosonic circuits"
We introduce a path propagation classical simulation alg for bosonic circuits
And find a funky interplay between quantum resources and noise
🧵👇
October 9, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Among todays mad arxiv overflow is our preprint:
"When quantum resources backfire: Non-gaussianity and symplectic coherence in noisy bosonic circuits"
We introduce a path propagation classical simulation alg for bosonic circuits
And find a funky interplay between quantum resources and noise
🧵👇
"When quantum resources backfire: Non-gaussianity and symplectic coherence in noisy bosonic circuits"
We introduce a path propagation classical simulation alg for bosonic circuits
And find a funky interplay between quantum resources and noise
🧵👇
Reposted by Zoe Holmes
Quantum arXiv today.
October 9, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Quantum arXiv today.
We provide evidence of an exponential gap between adaptive & nonadaptive strategies for a quantum recompilation task
Key takeaways:
- Entanglement isn’t always a roadblock: its degree can aid training
- Discrete optimization may be key to finding sweet spots between concentration & surrogation
Key takeaways:
- Entanglement isn’t always a roadblock: its degree can aid training
- Discrete optimization may be key to finding sweet spots between concentration & surrogation
October 2, 2025 at 1:23 PM
We provide evidence of an exponential gap between adaptive & nonadaptive strategies for a quantum recompilation task
Key takeaways:
- Entanglement isn’t always a roadblock: its degree can aid training
- Discrete optimization may be key to finding sweet spots between concentration & surrogation
Key takeaways:
- Entanglement isn’t always a roadblock: its degree can aid training
- Discrete optimization may be key to finding sweet spots between concentration & surrogation
Reposted by Zoe Holmes
EPFL are recruiting a tenure track assistant proff working on the theory of condensed matter and interacting quantum matter:
www.epfl.ch/about/workin...
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about life at EPFL/in Switzerland etc.
www.epfl.ch/about/workin...
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about life at EPFL/in Switzerland etc.
Faculty Position in Theory of Condensed Matter and Interacting Quantum Matter
The School of Basic Sciences (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics) at EPFL seeks to appoint a Tenure Track Assistant Professor in condensed matter theory with a focus on interacting quantum matter. Can...
www.epfl.ch
July 24, 2025 at 4:07 PM
EPFL are recruiting a tenure track assistant proff working on the theory of condensed matter and interacting quantum matter:
www.epfl.ch/about/workin...
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about life at EPFL/in Switzerland etc.
www.epfl.ch/about/workin...
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about life at EPFL/in Switzerland etc.
Reposted by Zoe Holmes
Tenure track assistant prof job up for grabs in Basel. It's quantum computing theory, based in computer science, and part of the NCCR SPIN.
Whoever gets this job will probably have to collaborate with me. Whether you see that as a pro or con is up to you.
jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stell...
Whoever gets this job will probably have to collaborate with me. Whether you see that as a pro or con is up to you.
jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stell...
Universität Basel: Tenure-track Assistant Professorship in Theoretical Quantum Computing
The University of Basel, Switzerland, invites applications for a professorship in theoretical quantum computing. The University of Basel is the home institution of the Swiss National Center of Compete...
jobs.unibas.ch
September 15, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Tenure track assistant prof job up for grabs in Basel. It's quantum computing theory, based in computer science, and part of the NCCR SPIN.
Whoever gets this job will probably have to collaborate with me. Whether you see that as a pro or con is up to you.
jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stell...
Whoever gets this job will probably have to collaborate with me. Whether you see that as a pro or con is up to you.
jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stell...
Also, sharing for friends:
Anyone fancy a (minimal teaching load) tenure track position on quantum computing on a sunny island 🌤️ 🏝️? The Cyprus Institute are also hiring a tenure track assistant proff on quantum algorithms.
onlinerecruitment.exelsyslive.com?c=6E7274A2-8...
(Deadline next week)
Anyone fancy a (minimal teaching load) tenure track position on quantum computing on a sunny island 🌤️ 🏝️? The Cyprus Institute are also hiring a tenure track assistant proff on quantum algorithms.
onlinerecruitment.exelsyslive.com?c=6E7274A2-8...
(Deadline next week)
Exelsys - Online Job Application
onlinerecruitment.exelsyslive.com
September 11, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Also, sharing for friends:
Anyone fancy a (minimal teaching load) tenure track position on quantum computing on a sunny island 🌤️ 🏝️? The Cyprus Institute are also hiring a tenure track assistant proff on quantum algorithms.
onlinerecruitment.exelsyslive.com?c=6E7274A2-8...
(Deadline next week)
Anyone fancy a (minimal teaching load) tenure track position on quantum computing on a sunny island 🌤️ 🏝️? The Cyprus Institute are also hiring a tenure track assistant proff on quantum algorithms.
onlinerecruitment.exelsyslive.com?c=6E7274A2-8...
(Deadline next week)
Fancy being (academic) neighbours?
The University of Basel are hiring a tenure-track assistant professor in theoretical quantum computing:
jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stell...
The University of Basel are hiring a tenure-track assistant professor in theoretical quantum computing:
jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stell...
Universität Basel: Tenure-track Assistant Professorship in Theoretical Quantum Computing
The University of Basel, Switzerland, invites applications for a professorship in theoretical quantum computing. The University of Basel is the home institution of the Swiss National Center of Compete...
jobs.unibas.ch
September 11, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Fancy being (academic) neighbours?
The University of Basel are hiring a tenure-track assistant professor in theoretical quantum computing:
jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stell...
The University of Basel are hiring a tenure-track assistant professor in theoretical quantum computing:
jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stell...
Reposted by Zoe Holmes
I am so, so happy to see this article published as a perspective in Nature Communications:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
More than the paper itself, I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with all my co-authors on the implications of the absence of BPs ~ classical simulability connection
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
More than the paper itself, I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with all my co-authors on the implications of the absence of BPs ~ classical simulability connection
Does provable absence of barren plateaus imply classical simulability? - Nature Communications
There has been growing evidence that strategies to circumvent the barren plateau problem in variational quantum computing might also kill potential quantum advantages. In this Perspective, the authors...
www.nature.com
August 26, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I am so, so happy to see this article published as a perspective in Nature Communications:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
More than the paper itself, I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with all my co-authors on the implications of the absence of BPs ~ classical simulability connection
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
More than the paper itself, I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with all my co-authors on the implications of the absence of BPs ~ classical simulability connection
I highly recommend @joachimfavre.bsky.social’s typed lecture notes for my quantum info course and on (quantum) computer science more generally 👇
(To give credit where it’s due my quantum info lectures built in turn on @davidbjennings.bsky.social’s brilliant quantum info lecture notes)
(To give credit where it’s due my quantum info lectures built in turn on @davidbjennings.bsky.social’s brilliant quantum info lecture notes)
I recently published the LaTeX notes I took in three amazing classes this semester:
- Computational quantum physics (Prof. @gppcarleo.bsky.social)
- Quantum information theory (Prof. @qzoeholmes.bsky.social)
- Sublinear algorithms for big data analysis (Prof. Michael Kapralov)
Link below👇
- Computational quantum physics (Prof. @gppcarleo.bsky.social)
- Quantum information theory (Prof. @qzoeholmes.bsky.social)
- Sublinear algorithms for big data analysis (Prof. Michael Kapralov)
Link below👇
August 19, 2025 at 1:53 AM
I highly recommend @joachimfavre.bsky.social’s typed lecture notes for my quantum info course and on (quantum) computer science more generally 👇
(To give credit where it’s due my quantum info lectures built in turn on @davidbjennings.bsky.social’s brilliant quantum info lecture notes)
(To give credit where it’s due my quantum info lectures built in turn on @davidbjennings.bsky.social’s brilliant quantum info lecture notes)
Hey! We've put out a paper discussing some pitfalls in attempts to avoid barren plateaus/exponential concentration in variational quantum algortithms and QML.
🧵👇
🧵👇
August 6, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Hey! We've put out a paper discussing some pitfalls in attempts to avoid barren plateaus/exponential concentration in variational quantum algortithms and QML.
🧵👇
🧵👇
EPFL are recruiting a tenure track assistant proff working on the theory of condensed matter and interacting quantum matter:
www.epfl.ch/about/workin...
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about life at EPFL/in Switzerland etc.
www.epfl.ch/about/workin...
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about life at EPFL/in Switzerland etc.
Faculty Position in Theory of Condensed Matter and Interacting Quantum Matter
The School of Basic Sciences (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics) at EPFL seeks to appoint a Tenure Track Assistant Professor in condensed matter theory with a focus on interacting quantum matter. Can...
www.epfl.ch
July 24, 2025 at 4:07 PM
EPFL are recruiting a tenure track assistant proff working on the theory of condensed matter and interacting quantum matter:
www.epfl.ch/about/workin...
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about life at EPFL/in Switzerland etc.
www.epfl.ch/about/workin...
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about life at EPFL/in Switzerland etc.
We thank the reviewer for bringing this citation to our attention...
July 22, 2025 at 2:57 PM
We thank the reviewer for bringing this citation to our attention...
Here's a new perspective on why Grover’s algorithm algorithm works:
Unstructured search can be written as ground state problem.
Then Grover's is just a product formula approximation of imaginary-time evolution
or, equivalently, a Riemannian gradient flow on SU(d)
to find this ground state.
Unstructured search can be written as ground state problem.
Then Grover's is just a product formula approximation of imaginary-time evolution
or, equivalently, a Riemannian gradient flow on SU(d)
to find this ground state.
July 22, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Here's a new perspective on why Grover’s algorithm algorithm works:
Unstructured search can be written as ground state problem.
Then Grover's is just a product formula approximation of imaginary-time evolution
or, equivalently, a Riemannian gradient flow on SU(d)
to find this ground state.
Unstructured search can be written as ground state problem.
Then Grover's is just a product formula approximation of imaginary-time evolution
or, equivalently, a Riemannian gradient flow on SU(d)
to find this ground state.
Each year EPFL physics students vote for their best lecturers
This year, for the first time, the top 3 were all women
www.epfl.ch/schools/sb/s...
I don't know if this is EPFL students being progressive, or a wider phenomenon, but things have certainly improved since my time as an undergrad...
This year, for the first time, the top 3 were all women
www.epfl.ch/schools/sb/s...
I don't know if this is EPFL students being progressive, or a wider phenomenon, but things have certainly improved since my time as an undergrad...
Craie d’or 2025
SPH
www.epfl.ch
June 23, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Each year EPFL physics students vote for their best lecturers
This year, for the first time, the top 3 were all women
www.epfl.ch/schools/sb/s...
I don't know if this is EPFL students being progressive, or a wider phenomenon, but things have certainly improved since my time as an undergrad...
This year, for the first time, the top 3 were all women
www.epfl.ch/schools/sb/s...
I don't know if this is EPFL students being progressive, or a wider phenomenon, but things have certainly improved since my time as an undergrad...
Retweeting this for the folks (myself included) that weren't online over the long weekend
PauliPropagation.jl is open source library that you can use to approximately simulate quantum circuits
We explain the nitty gritty of how these algorithms work in practise in our latest companion paper
🧵👇
PauliPropagation.jl is open source library that you can use to approximately simulate quantum circuits
We explain the nitty gritty of how these algorithms work in practise in our latest companion paper
🧵👇
June 2, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Retweeting this for the folks (myself included) that weren't online over the long weekend
PauliPropagation.jl is open source library that you can use to approximately simulate quantum circuits
We explain the nitty gritty of how these algorithms work in practise in our latest companion paper
🧵👇
PauliPropagation.jl is open source library that you can use to approximately simulate quantum circuits
We explain the nitty gritty of how these algorithms work in practise in our latest companion paper
🧵👇
Reposted by Zoe Holmes
Wondering whether simply scaling up system sizes and cranking up chaos really supercharges a quantum reservoir, or if dissipation is really a resource at scale? 🌀
We demystify these QRC myths in our new preprint: [https://scirate.com/arxiv/2505.10080]
🧵 Key takeaways in a great thread below!👇
We demystify these QRC myths in our new preprint: [https://scirate.com/arxiv/2505.10080]
🧵 Key takeaways in a great thread below!👇
Once upon a time a myth in Quantum Reservoir Processing (QRP) goes by “more chaos = richer feature map = better”
Doomed by their own chaotic dynamics, QRP may not scale in the extreme scrambling limit.
Check out our new Star Wa… I mean paper on arxiv: scirate.com/arxiv/2505.1...
Doomed by their own chaotic dynamics, QRP may not scale in the extreme scrambling limit.
Check out our new Star Wa… I mean paper on arxiv: scirate.com/arxiv/2505.1...
May 17, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Wondering whether simply scaling up system sizes and cranking up chaos really supercharges a quantum reservoir, or if dissipation is really a resource at scale? 🌀
We demystify these QRC myths in our new preprint: [https://scirate.com/arxiv/2505.10080]
🧵 Key takeaways in a great thread below!👇
We demystify these QRC myths in our new preprint: [https://scirate.com/arxiv/2505.10080]
🧵 Key takeaways in a great thread below!👇
Reposted by Zoe Holmes
Open for submissions: Focus on Perspectives on the Future of Variational Quantum Computing
Find out more here: ow.ly/fR1W50Uu1av
Guest editors:
✍️ Marco Cerezo
@mvscerezo.bsky.social
✍️ Zoe Holmes
@qzoeholmes.bsky.social
Find out more here: ow.ly/fR1W50Uu1av
Guest editors:
✍️ Marco Cerezo
@mvscerezo.bsky.social
✍️ Zoe Holmes
@qzoeholmes.bsky.social
April 11, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Open for submissions: Focus on Perspectives on the Future of Variational Quantum Computing
Find out more here: ow.ly/fR1W50Uu1av
Guest editors:
✍️ Marco Cerezo
@mvscerezo.bsky.social
✍️ Zoe Holmes
@qzoeholmes.bsky.social
Find out more here: ow.ly/fR1W50Uu1av
Guest editors:
✍️ Marco Cerezo
@mvscerezo.bsky.social
✍️ Zoe Holmes
@qzoeholmes.bsky.social
Today we posted a paper showing how a double-bracket quantum algorithm can implement quantum signal processing (DB-QSP), i.e., apply polynomial functions of operators to states.
Crucially our approach doesn't need any post-selection - but this comes at the expense of increased circuit depths.
Crucially our approach doesn't need any post-selection - but this comes at the expense of increased circuit depths.
April 3, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Today we posted a paper showing how a double-bracket quantum algorithm can implement quantum signal processing (DB-QSP), i.e., apply polynomial functions of operators to states.
Crucially our approach doesn't need any post-selection - but this comes at the expense of increased circuit depths.
Crucially our approach doesn't need any post-selection - but this comes at the expense of increased circuit depths.
Reposted by Zoe Holmes
🎉I am very happy to see our Barren Plateau Review published in Nature Review Physics. This article condenses 6 years of our LANL work, but also so many amazing papers by the community!!
Check it here 👇
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
Check it here 👇
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
Barren plateaus in variational quantum computing - Nature Reviews Physics
Barren plateaus are widely considered as one of the main limitations for variational quantum algorithms. This Review summarizes the latest understandings of barren plateaus, indicating its causes, arc...
www.nature.com
March 27, 2025 at 5:50 PM
🎉I am very happy to see our Barren Plateau Review published in Nature Review Physics. This article condenses 6 years of our LANL work, but also so many amazing papers by the community!!
Check it here 👇
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
Check it here 👇
www.nature.com/articles/s42...