Román Orús

{{Short description|Theoretical Physicist}}

{{Infobox scientist

| name = Román Orús

| image = RomanPic.jpg

| birth_date = January 4, 1979

| birth_place = Barcelona

| nationality = Spanish

| known_for = Quantum Computing

| education = PhD in Physics

| alma_mater = University of Barcelona

| awards ={{Plainlist|

}}

| work_institution = {{Plainlist|

| thesis_title = Entanglement, quantum phase transitions and quantum algorithms {{r|Dissertation}}

| thesis_year = 2006

| doctoral_advisor = José Ignacio Latorre

}}

}}

Román Orús Lacort (Barcelona, 1979) is a Spanish theoretical physicist who specializes in quantum information science and quantum tensor networks. He is Ikerbasque Research Professor at the Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), as well as co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Multiverse Computing.{{cite web |title=EE Times Europe Author Román Orús |url=https://www.eetimes.eu/author/roman-orus/ |website=EE Times |date=26 October 2022 |access-date=18 April 2024}}

Education and career

Román Orús studied physics at the University of Barcelona where he obtained his Ph.D. supervised by José Ignacio Latorre in 2006. Orús' doctoral thesis, “Entanglement, quantum phase transitions and quantum algorithms," connected quantum algorithms with quantum phase transitions.{{cite arXiv |last1=Orus |first1=Roman |title=Entanglement, quantum phase transitions and quantum algorithms |date=1 August 2006 |eprint=quant-ph/0608013 }}

Afterwards he developed tensor networks to study high-dimensional quantum complex systems as a research fellow at the University of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia) with Guifré Vidal, and at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (Garching, Germany) with Ignacio Cirac.{{cite journal |last1=Orus |first1=Roman |title=Ground State Fidelity from Tensor Network Representations |url=https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.080601 |journal=Physical Review Letters |date=10 October 2007 |volume=100 |issue=8 |page=080601 |doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.080601 |pmid=18352611 |arxiv=0709.4596 |access-date=5 April 2024}}

He became Junior Professor of Condensed Matter Physics at the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (Mainz, Germany) in 2013, and Ikerbasque Research Professor at DIPC (San Sebastián, Spain) in 2018.{{cite web |title=Román Orús Lacort |url=https://dipc.ehu.eus/en/dipc/people/permanent-researchers/roman-orus-lacort |website=Donostia International Physics Center |date=9 Jan 2018 |access-date=2024-10-17}} He also held visiting professorships at CNRS (Toulouse, France) and DIPC and has lectured at the Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics at UCLA.{{cite web |title=Román Orús |url=https://www.ikerbasque.net/es/roman-orus |website=Basque Foundation for Science |date=28 August 2018 |access-date=2024-10-17}}{{cite web |title=News on tensor Networks for machine learning and quantum computing simulation |url=https://www.ipam.ucla.edu/abstract/?tid=20017&pcode=TNK2024 |website=UCLA | date=21 April 2014 |access-date=2024-10-17}}

In 2014 he published “A Practical Introduction to Tensor Networks” which describes the applications of Matrix Product States and Projected Entangled Pair States for optimization, quantum gravity, and the study of quantum many-body systems.{{cite journal |last1=Orus |first1=Roman |title=A practical introduction to tensor networks: Matrix product states and projected entangled pair states |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003491614001596 |journal=Annals of Physics |date=1 October 2014 |volume=349 |pages=117–158 |doi=10.1016/j.aop.2014.06.013 |arxiv=1306.2164 |bibcode=2014AnPhy.349..117O |access-date=4 April 2024}}

Orús' research on tensor networks for complex quantum systems{{cite journal |last1=Orus |first1=Roman |title=Tensor networks for complex quantum systems |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s42254-019-0086-7 |journal=Nature Reviews Physics |date=5 August 2019 |volume=1 |issue=9 |pages=538–550 |doi=10.1038/s42254-019-0086-7 |arxiv=1812.04011 |bibcode=2019NatRP...1..538O |access-date=4 April 2024}} contributed to the field's modern research and applications in machine learning.{{cite web |title=Review Articles and Learning Resources |url=https://tensornetwork.org/reviews_resources.html |website=tensornetwork.org |access-date=17 Sep 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Musgrave |first1=Harvey |title=The Relationship Between Quantum Science and Machine Learning |url=https://www.azoquantum.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=380 |website=AZo Quantum |date=9 Nov 2022 |access-date=17 Sep 2024}}

In 2018, Orús wrote an article with Sam Mugel and Enrique Lizaso on the practical applications of quantum computing in finance.{{cite journal |last1=Orus |first1=Roman |title=Quantum computing for finance: Overview and prospects |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405428318300571 |journal=Reviews in Physics |date=1 November 2019 |volume=4 |doi=10.1016/j.revip.2019.100028 |arxiv=1807.03890 |bibcode=2019RvPhy...400028O |access-date=5 April 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Lacan |first1=Francis |title= Getting your financial institution ready for the quantum computing revolution |url=https://www.ibm.com/downloads/cas/MBZYGRKY |website=IBM |date=September 2020 |access-date=5 April 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Bobier |first1=Jean-Francois |title=It's Time for Financial Institutions to Place Their Quantum Bets |url=https://www.bcg.com/publications/2020/how-financial-institutions-can-utilize-quantum-computing |website=BCG |date=16 October 2020 |access-date=5 April 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Dietz |first1=Miklos |title=How quantum computing could change financial services |url=https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Industries/Financial%20Services/Our%20Insights/How%20quantum%20computing%20could%20change%20financial%20services/How-quantum-computing-could-change-financial-services.pdf?shouldIndex=false |website=McKinsey & Company |date=December 2020 |access-date=5 April 2024}} This demonstration of quantum and financial technology for enterprise led to the creation of Multiverse Computing in 2019.

Orus’ work on quantum and quantum-inspired solutions at Multiverse has also been used in projections on the future intersection of artificial intelligence and quantum computing.{{cite web |last1=Edwards |first1=John |title=Quantum Computing and AI: A Perfect Match? |url=https://www.informationweek.com/machine-learning-ai/quantum-computing-and-ai-a-perfect-match- |website=InformationWeek |date=14 Jun 2024 |access-date=2024-10-17}}{{cite web |last1=Swayne |first1=Matt |title=Looking Back, Looking Ahead: Quantum Experts Reflect On 2023, Peer Into 2024 |url=https://thequantuminsider.com/2023/12/30/looking-back-looking-ahead-quantum-experts-reflect-on-2023-peer-into-2024/ |website=The Quantum Insider |date=30 December 2023 |access-date=8 April 2024}}{{cite web |title=Tensor Networks: Untangling the Mysteries of Quantum Systems |url=https://www.scientia.global/dr-roman-orus-tensor-networks-untangling-the-mysteries-of-quantum-systems/ |website=Scientia |date=3 Apr 2018 |access-date=2024-10-17}}

Scientific work

In 2023, Orus developed an algorithm for executing complex calculations on noisy intermediate scale quantum computers to solve specialized problems like optimization.{{cite web |last1=Lovati |first1=Stefano |title='Quantum Calculator' Algorithm Tackles Optimization Problems |url=https://www.eetimes.eu/quantum-calculator-algorithm-tackles-optimization-problems/ |website=EE Times Europe |date=17 April 2023 |access-date=8 April 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Baker |first1=Berenice |title=Advanced Mathematical Tool Created for Quantum Computers |url=https://www.iotworldtoday.com/quantum/advanced-mathematical-tool-created-for-quantum-computer |website= IoT World Today |date=14 December 2022 |access-date=8 April 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Morrison |first1=Ryan |title=Multiverse creates quantum calculator for optimization issues |url=https://techmonitor.ai/hardware/multiverse-creates-quantum-calculator-for-optimisation-issues |website=Tech Monitor |date=15 December 2022 |access-date=8 April 2024}}

Also in 2023, Orus designed a quantum-enhanced kernel method for image classification, applying quantum artificial intelligence to identify manufacturing defects.{{cite web |title=Multiverse Computing and IKERLAN detect defects in manufacturing with quantum computing vision |url=https://www.automationmagazine.co.uk/multiverse-computing-and-ikerlan-detect-defects-in-manufacturing-with-quantum-computing-vision/ |website=Automation Magazine UK |date=17 August 2022 |access-date=8 April 2024}}

In cybersecurity,  Orús demonstrated examples of possible quantum cyberattacks for symmetric-key cryptographic protocols such as AES and Blowfish that could make those ciphers vulnerable using few-qubit quantum processors.{{cite web |last1=Vaughan |first1=Jack |title=Multiverse Computing utilizes quantum tools for finance apps |url=https://venturebeat.com/business/multiverse-computing-utilizes-quantum-tools-for-finance-apps/ |website=VentureBeat |date=1 November 2021 |access-date=5 April 2024}}

He also developed industrial applications of tensor networks for machine learning,{{cite arXiv |last1=Patel |first1=Raj |title=Application of Tensor Neural Networks to Pricing Bermudan Swaptions |date=18 April 2023 |class=q-fin.CP |eprint=2304.09750 }} using tensor networks to compress Large Language Models such as ChatGPT and LLaMA, reducing size while retaining most of the original accuracy to improve energy costs and efficiency.{{cite web |last1=Lunden |first1=Ingrid |title=Multiverse raises $27M for quantum software targeting LLM leviathans |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/04/multiverse-computing/ |website=TechCrunch |date=4 March 2024 |access-date=5 April 2024}}{{cite web |last1=O'Shea |first1=Dan |title=Multiverse's Román Orús on international growth and using quantum to tame AI |url=https://www.insidequantumtechnology.com/news-archive/multiverses-roman-orus-on-international-growth-and-using-quantum-to-tame-ai/ |website=Inside Quantum Technology |date=7 March 2024 |access-date=5 April 2024}}

In 2014, Orús designed a tensor network algorithm to characterize topologically ordered systems with quantum many-body entanglement.{{cite journal |last1=Orus |first1=Roman |title=Topological Transitions from Multipartite Entanglement with Tensor Networks: A Procedure for Sharper and Faster Characterization |url=https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.257202 |journal=Physical Review Letters |date=19 December 2014 |volume=113 |issue=25 |page=257202 |doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.257202 |pmid=25554905 |arxiv=1406.0585 |bibcode=2014PhRvL.113y7202O |access-date=5 April 2024}}

Recognition

Orús received the 2024 Physics, Innovation and Technology award from the Spanish Royal Society of Physics, which recognized Orús’ career, patents, and contributions in the field of quantum technologies.{{cite web |title=Román Orús receives the "Physics, Innovation and Technology" award from the Spanish Royal Society of Physics-BBVA Foundation |url=https://dipc.ehu.eus/en/whats-new/news/roman-orus-receives-the-201cphysics-innovation-and-technology201d-award-from-the-spanish-royal-society-of-physics-bbva-foundation |website=Donostia International Physics Center |date=1 Oct 2024 |access-date=2024-10-17}}{{cite web |title=Fallados los Premios de Física Real Sociedad Española de Física (RSEF) – Fundación BBVA |url=https://dipc.ehu.eus/en/whats-new/news/roman-orus-receives-the-201cphysics-innovation-and-technology201d-award-from-the-spanish-royal-society-of-physics-bbva-foundation |website=FBBVA |date=28 Sep 2024 |access-date=2024-10-17}}

Other awards include an honorable mention in the Václav Votruba Prize (2008), a Marie Curie Incoming International Fellowship (2009) and the Early Career Prize of the European Physical Society (2014), which he won alongside Ian Chapman.{{cite web |title=Román Orús awarded 2014 EPS Early Career Prize of the European Physical Society |url=https://www.blogs.uni-mainz.de/fb08-pmc/romn-ors-awarded-2014-eps-early-career-prize-of-the-european-physical-society/ |website=University of Mainz |date=10 October 2014 |access-date=5 April 2024}}{{cite web |title=The 2008 Prize |url=https://www.ujf.cas.cz/cs/oddeleni/oddeleni-teoreticke-fyziky/projekty/votruba/VP2008.html |website=Ústav jaderné fyziky AV ČRÚstav jaderné fyziky AV ČR |date=2008 |access-date=2024-10-17}}

Orús is steering board member of the journal Quantum as well as a member of the editorial board of the journal Symmetry.{{cite web |title=People |url=https://quantum-journal.org/about/people/ |website=Quantum |date=2024 |access-date=2024-10-17}}{{cite web |title=Editorial Board |url=https://www.mdpi.com/journal/symmetry/editors?page_no=18 |website=MDPI |date=2024 |access-date=2024-10-17}}

See also

References

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