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Events for December 18, 2007

  • QEC07: The First International Conference on Quantum Error Correction

    Tue, Dec 18, 2007

    USC Viterbi School of Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Quantum error correction of decoherence and faulty control operations forms the backbone of all of quantum information processing. In spite of remarkable progress on this front ever since the discovery of quantum error correcting codes a decade ago, there remain important open problems in both theory and applications to real physical systems. In short, a theory of quantum error correction that is at the same time comprehensive and realistically applicable has not yet been discovered. Therefore the subject remains a very active area of research with a continuing stream of progress and breakthroughs.The First International Conference on Quantum Error Correction, hosted by the USC Center for Quantum Information Science & Technology (CQIST), will bring together a wide group of experts to discuss all aspects of decoherence control and fault tolerance. The subject is at this point in time of a mostly theoretical nature, but the conference will include talks surveying the latest experimental progress, and will seek to promote an interaction between theoreticians and experimentalists.Topics of interest include, in random order: fault tolerance and thresholds, pulse control methods (dynamical decoupling), hybrid methods, applications to cryptography, decoherence-free subspaces and noiseless subsystems, operator quantum error correction, advanced codes (convolutional codes, catalytic, entanglement assisted, ...), topological codes, fault tolerance in the cluster model, fault tolerance in linear optics QC, fault tolerance in condensed matter systems, unification of error correction paradigms, self-correcting systems, error correction/avoidance via energy gaps, error correction in adiabatic QC, composite pulses, continuous-time QEC, error correction for specific errors (e.g., spontaneous emission), etc.Complete information at
    http://qserver.usc.edu/qec07/

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: eric mankin

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  • Encoding Circuits For Block and Convolutional Quantum Codes

    Tue, Dec 18, 2007 @ 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    SPEAKER: Markus Grassl
    Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information
    Austrian Academy of Sciences
    Innsbruck, AustriaAbstract: Quantum error correction is a key ingredient for the realization of a quantum computer. In my talk I will give an overview of the relations between classical and quantum error-correcting codes (QECCs), illustrated by several constructions for QECCs. I will also address the problem of computing encoding circuits for the quantum codes. In the case of quantum block codes we obtain efficient encoding circuits. For convolutional quantum codes, the algorithm first allows to decide whether the code is catastrophic or not, corresponding to encoding circuits of infinite or finite depth, respectively. Then every catastrophic code can be converted into a non-catastrophic one with the same rate.This talk is for a general audience and does not assume prior knowledge of quantum mechanics.Biography: Markus Grassl received his diploma degree in Computer Science in 1994 and his doctoral degree in 2001, both from the Fakultaet fuer Informatik, Universitaet Karlsruhe (TH), Germany. His dissertation was on constructive and algorithmic aspects of quantum error-correcting codes.From 1994 to 2007 he has been a member of the Institut fuer Algorithmen und Kognitive Systeme, Fakultaet fuer Informatik, Universitaet Karlsruhe (TH), Germany. Currently he is a senior scientist at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck, Austria.His research interests include quantum computation, focusing on quantum error-correcting codes, and methods of computer algebra in algebraic coding theory. He maintains www.codetables.de which provides information on good quantum and classical block codes.Host: Todd Brun, tbrun@usc.edu, EEB 502, x03503

    Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Gerrielyn Ramos

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  • ENE Oral Defense

    Tue, Dec 18, 2007 @ 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM

    Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Ultra Clean Fuels via UAOD Process with
    Room Temperature Ionic Liquid and Solid Catalyst PolishingShun Sheng Cheng
    KAP 209, 2007/12/20, 2-4 pmAbstractLimitation of 15 ppm has been considered for the content of sulfur in the diesel fuel due to the sulfur regulation by the EPA. However, ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel has not been produced sufficiently by the current desulfurization technology.
    In this study, a new desulfurization technology has been development, this include modified ultrasound assisted oxidative desulfurization (UAOD) process and fluidized bed reactor (FBR), which has been considered as one of the innovative schemes related to the desulfurization. In this respect, ionic liquid, oxidant, phase transfer catalysis, stirring, sonication, and acid catalyst have been combined in the modified UAOD process specifically. Thus, mild conditions have also provided high desulfurization efficiency.
    During the study, proper oxidant, catalyst, as well as, ionic liquid was utilized during the demonstration under the modified UAOD process, specifically for model sulfur compounds. It has been observed that duration of three hours has been enough for desulfurize 99.9% of various type of model sulfur compound.
    Various levels of sulfur content are contained, and can be observed in diesel fuels. Valley Oil, JP-5, and Treated Valley Oil are some of the levels. In this regard, 99.9% removal efficiency in the sulfur reduction can be demonstrated by the solvent extraction, as well as, solid adsorption, which has been followed by the modified UAOD process. Moreover, recycling can be done to the ionic liquid and acid catalyst, which is usually contained in the spent aqueous phase. Interestingly, high efficiency, as well as, high selectivity can be exhibited by the same.
    In the pilot study, treatment tank, a pipeline system, as well as, high shear mixer has been created for the development of practical application of a batch-type continuous flow system. During these developments, appropriate time and mild conditions were given during the operations. The results show 99.9% of desulfurization efficiency can be achieve by the process. Moreover, utilization of ionic liquid and acid catalyst had been done at a less extent by the pilot study, as compared to the batch study.
    FBR has been used to pass the oxidized organic compounds that have came out from the batch-type continuous flow system. Moreover, acidic alumina can adsorb almost 99.9% of oxidized sulfur, as indicated by the results. Additionally, recycling has also not affect the adsorption capacity of adsorbent.
    It has been shown by the results of this dissertation that sulfur removal from the diesel fuels can be done effectively by the employment of modified UAOD process and FBR. In addition, new environmental standards can be met easily by the production of ULSD fuel by the utilization of appropriate design, as well as, chemicals during the process.

    Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Evangeline Reyes

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  • Technology and Society

    Tue, Dec 18, 2007 @ 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM

    Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

    University Calendar


    Computer Science Distinguished Lecture Series - 2nd Annual George Bekey Keynote Lecture"Technology and Society"Dr. Raj ReddyMozah Bint Nasser University Professor of Computer Science and Robotics, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon UniversityABSTRACT: This talk will present several examples of how Technology, in particular Information Technology, can contribute to a wide range of human activities.
    In particular we will discuss societal applications of Robotics, Speech Recognition and Synthesis, Computer Vision, Human Computer Interaction, Language Understanding Systems, and Artificial Intelligence.------------------------BIO: Dr. Raj Reddy is the Mozah Bint Nasser University Professor of Computer Science and Robotics in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University. His current research interests include Million Book Digital Library Project; Fiber To The Village Project; and Learning by Doing. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Reddy was awarded the Legion of Honor by President Mitterand in 1984, the ACM Turing Award in 1994, the Honda Prize in 2005 and Vannevar Bush Award in 2006. He served as co-chair of the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee(PITAC) from 1999 to 2001

    Location: Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center (GER) - Auditorium

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Georgia Lum

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