PhD Defenses

PHYSICS PHD DISSERTATION DEFENSE: Daniel Ranard

Date

Wed May 12th 2021, 11:00am

Ph.D. Candidate: Daniel Ranard
Research Advisor: Xiao-Liang Qi

Date: Wednesday, MAY 12, 2021
Time: 11am

Zoom Link: https://stanford.zoom.us/j/93176201500

Zoom Password: email mariaf67 [at] stanford.edu (mariaf67[at]stanford[dot]edu) for password

Title: Can local dynamics always be generated by local Hamiltonians?

Abstract: Lattice Hamiltonians with local interactions exhibit an approximate "light cone," a speed limit on how fast information can propagate. Conversely, if some unitary evolution exhibits an approximate light cone, can it be generated by a local Hamiltonian? We prove the answer is (almost) yes, at least for one-dimensional lattice systems. I will discuss these results and other basic questions about locality in quantum systems.