The research group headed by Prof. Norbert Schuch applies quantum information methods to the systematic study of strongly correlated systems, with three main goals; their first aim is to classify the possible phases of strongly correlated systems, this is, the distinct types of global entanglement.
Second, they use these insights to study specific strongly correlated systems by means of tailored variational wavefunctions.
Third, they study the fundamental limitations to their understanding of these systems imposed by quantum complexity theory. An important tool in the studies of the recent ERC Consolidator grant holder is the description of many-body states in terms of tensor networks. Tensor network states provide a description of a global wavefunction, as well as an associated Hamiltonian, from a single local tensor which encapsulates all properties of the system, and thus allow for an explanation of the global behavior of strongly correlated systems based on their local properties.
Education, Professional Experience & Awards
1997-2002 Studies of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Regensburg
2003-2007 PhD at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and the TU Munich
2007-2009 Postdoc at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Munich
2009-2012 Postdoc at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena/USA
2012-2015 Junior Professor (tenure track) at the Institute for Quantum Information
at RWTH Aachen
2014 ERC Starting Grant "Wavefunctions for Strongly Correlated Systems"
2015-2020 Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Munich
2019 ERC Consolidator Grant "Symmetries and entanglement in quantum matter"
As of Oct. 2020 Professor for Mathematics and Physics at the University of Vienna
