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Quantum Monte-Carlo in mesoscopic devices

Final Report Summary - MESOQMC (Quantum Monte-Carlo in mesoscopic devices)

The project MesoQMC stands at the intersection between traditional theory and computer simulations. We have developed scientific software that follows very closely the mathematical description of the theorists so that abstract mathematical concepts can be fed to the computer - which transforms them into the actual numerical entities that are needed for actual computations. The first layer of software, Kwant, has already been available to the public for two years: http://kwant-project.org. It allows one to compute the stationary properties of nanoelectronic devices deep in their quantum regime. A community of 20 research groups or so is already using it on a regular basis. A second layer, that will be released soon, makes the computation of the dynamics of these systems possible, hence the control of quantum state. A necessary step for designing the building blocks of a future quantum computer. A last prototype layer will allow a full control of the correlations building up in the system.

Kwant philosophy is that one should describe systems or problems the way we think about it, not the way the computer needs them. Another aspect is to design the correct abstraction for a mathematical abstraction so that thing remain as general as possible. As a result, Kwant has already been used in apparently vey different situations while only a few lines of codes separate systems as different as: mesoscopic superconductivity, topological insulators, graphene, quantum Hall effect, spin valves or Majorana fermions.