The adjacent quantum: Bridging theory and technology for a quantum future

In his inaugural lecture, Prof Francesco Petruccione journeys through a century of quantum theory, beginning with De Broglie’s revolutionary concept of matter waves, which expanded the boundaries of possibility for the nature of matter itself. From the initial framework of quantum mechanics, encapsulated by Schrödinger’s equation and the notion of closed systems, he then explores the evolution to open quantum systems – an area driven by the recognition of the limitations of closed dynamics in capturing the true nature of quantum phenomena.

He also delves into his own scientific trajectory, from his early work on kinetic models in polymer physics, to the application of Monte Carlo methods in hydrodynamics and turbulence, and eventually to the forefront of open quantum systems and quantum computing. This exploration of quantum openness extends to the realm of quantum biology, where life’s intrinsic interaction with its environment finds expression in quantum terms, offering insights into processes such as photosynthesis, bird migration, and even the workings of the human brain.

Finally, the lecture highlights recent advances in quantum machine learning and outlines future directions in quantum science and technology, contemplating how we might continue to redefine the boundaries of what is possible in the quantum realm.

WATCH THE INAUGURAL LECTURE HERE

Short biography

Francesco Petruccione is a professor of Quantum Computing at the Stellenbosch University (SU) School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, and the director of the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS), headquartered at SU. He also co-leads the Africa–Europe Cluster of Research Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (CoRE-AI), which focuses on using artificial intelligence, data science as well as theoretical and computational methods to address pressing African and global challenges.

He began his academic career at the University of Freiburg, Germany, where he completed his PhD in 1988 and obtained his habilitation in 1994. In 2004, he joined the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) as a professor of Theoretical Physics and later served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Big Data and Informatics, contributing to UKZN’s strategic initiatives in data science. In 2007, Prof Petruccione was appointed as the incumbent of the South African Research Chair in Quantum Information Processing and Communication at UKZN – a role he held until his move to SU in 2022.

His academic contributions include over 250 publications in peer-reviewed journals. His book The Theory of Open Quantum Systems, which was also translated into Russian, has been widely cited. He also co-authored both Supervised Learning with Quantum Computers and Machine Learning with Quantum Computers, with the latter being published in Japanese as well.

His professional affiliations include membership of the Academy of Sciences of South Africa (ASSAf), the Royal Society of South Africa, and the African Academy of Sciences (AAS). He also serves on the editorial boards of several scientific journals, including Open Systems and Information Dynamics, Scientific Reports and Quantum Machine Intelligence. In 2023, the Italian government bestowed on him the Ordine della Stella d’Italia (the Order of the Star of Italy) in recognition of his leading expertise in quantum technologies.