15th QSC General Assembly in Delft
We cordially invite you to the 15th General Assembly of the Quantum Software Consortium (QSC), to be held in Delft on 7 May 2026. The scientific programme will be composed by Tim Coopmans (QuTech, TU Delft) and Jonas Helsen (QuSoft, CWI). A variety of presentations will cover topics ranging from mathematics and cryptography to quantum information and experimental quantum optics.
Speakers who have confirmed:
Alicja Dutkiewicz (QuSoft, CWI) - Ground state energy estimation in the early fault-tolerant era
Scarlett Gauthier (QuTech, TU Delft) - Arqon quantum network architecture and the QIA prototype network
Stefano Polla (QuSoft/HIMS/IvI,UvA)- What do we need to realize the promise of quantum computing in Chemistry?
Boris Skoric (Security Group, TU/e) - Random coding for long-range continuous-variable Quantum Key Distribution
Alicja Dutkiewicz Scarlett Gauthier
Stefano Polla Boris Skoric
Alicja Dutkiewicz (QuSoft, CWI)
Title: Ground state energy estimation in the early fault-tolerant era.
Abstract:Quantum computing is entering the early fault-tolerant era, where logical qubits are available but circuit depth and noise remain serious constraints. Among the first practical applications we expect from these devices is quantum simulation, with ground-state energy estimation as a central task. Quantum phase estimation (QPE) is the key algorithmic primitive here, and making it work under realistic constraints, such as limited circuit depth, residual noise, imperfect state preparation, is an active field of research. In this talk, I will review how QPE must be adapted to this setting, from the choice of Hamiltonian simulation method to the circuit architecture and classical post-processing.
Scarlett Gauthier (QuTech, TU Delft and the Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA)
Stefano Polla (QuSoft/HIMS/IvI, UvA)
Boris Skoric (Security Group, TU/e)
Abstract: Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) schemes are key exchange protocols based on the physical properties of quantum channels. They avoid the computational-hardness assumptions that underlie the security of classical key exchange. Continuous-Variable QKD (CVQKD), in contrast to qubit-based discrete-variable (DV) schemes, makes use of quadrature measurements of the electromagnetic field. CVQKD has the advantage of being compatible with standard telecom equipment, but at long distances has to deal with very low signal to noise ratios, which necessitates labour-intensive error correction. It is challenging to implement the error correction decoding in realtime. In this paper we introduce a random-codebook error correction method that is suitable for long range Gaussian-modulated CVQKD. We use likelihood ratio scoring with block rejection based on thresholding. For proof-technical reasons, the accept/reject decisions are communicated in encrypted form; in this way we avoid having to deal with non-Gaussianstates in the analysis of the leakage. The error correction method is highly parallelisable, which is advantageous for realtime implementation. Under conservative assumptions on the computational resources, we predict a realtime key ratio of at least 8% of the Devetak-Winter value, which outperforms existing reconciliation schemes.
The organisation of the event will be overseen by Carla van Asperen and Doutzen Abma.
