📢 Behind the scenes #5 with Alessandro Ferraro from Università degli Studi di Milano team!
🧢 Alessandro, what is your role in the Veriqub project?
I am the research coordinator for the Milan partner of Veriqub. Scientifically, my role involves overseeing the research activities related to one of the two main theoretical tasks within Veriqub. Our objective is to identify the critical resources required for bosonic computations using superconducting and optical platforms. To achieve this, we are developing resource-theoretic frameworks for the relevant bosonic architectures, including efficient resource witnesses, resource conversion protocols, and resource optimization algorithms.
In addition to this, my responsibilities include navigating the bureaucratic complexities of hiring personnel and integrating them seamlessly into the scientific activities of Veriqub. At times, I find myself pondering which is the more formidable challenge: unraveling the mysteries of quantum computation or deciphering the arcane labyrinth of administrative procedures.
👨‍🎓 What is your background?
I am a theoretical physicist and got my PhD from UniversitĂ degli Studi di Milano in 2005. Since then, I have worked at various institutions, including ICFO, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, UCL and University of Sussex. In 2013, I joined Queen’s University Belfast as a Lecturer, where I later became a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Research Centre for Theoretical Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics. In 2022, I returned to UniversitĂ degli Studi di Milano as Associate Professor. My research focuses on quantum information theory, quantum optics, and the intersection of quantum information, thermodynamics, and many-body systems.
💥 What are the aspects you’re most excited about Veriqub?
I have been working on the theory of continuous-variable (CV) quantum information from the very beginning of my scientific career. This field truly captivates me, as it delves into the fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics and seamlessly merges quantum optics with quantum information science. However, for several years, I was only marginally interested in quantum computation specifically. The main barrier for me was the lack of experimental techniques to properly digitize information on CV systems, as robust implementations of bosonic codes remained elusive. Things started to change around 2017, and now we have several labs – including Veriqub’s partner at Chalmers University of Technology – where colleagues are making significant progress in generating and manipulating digitized information through bosonic codes. This development has been very exciting for me, and since then, I have been working on various aspects of quantum computing with bosonic architectures. The Veriqub project tackles some of the most intriguing aspects of this field, which I find particularly thrilling.
đź“ť What is the one thing that you need in your daily work routine?
Time – the universal (not necessarily quantum) resource that I never seem to have enough of. Need I say more?
🚶‍♂️Is there any activity that helps you release stress after a hard week at work?
Stress? Oh, I’m not overly stressed – just perpetually frustrated. For insights, please refer back to my previous answer. As for a frustration-relieving daily activity during worktime, a good dose of irony often does the trick. Fortunately, my collaborators are exceptionally generous, ensuring I receive a constant, ample supply.
