Topic: Quantum Frontiers in Particle Physics - From Sensing Rare Decays to Solving Collider Challenges
Quantum computing represents one of today’s most exciting frontiers in science and technology, with the potential to tackle problems that are intractable for classical computers. In this talk, I will highlight some promising applications in particle physics where quantum approaches could revolutionize analysis — including quantum optimization for combinatorial challenges at the LHC and the use of qubit-based sensors in dark matter detection.
Speaker: Dr. KC Kong
K.C. Kong is a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Kansas. His research spans physics beyond the Standard Model, including collider phenomenology, supersymmetry, extra dimensions, and Higgs physics, as well as astroparticle physics with a focus on direct and indirect dark matter searches. More recently, his work has expanded into artificial intelligence and machine learning, with an emphasis on quantum algorithms and quantum machine learning applied to fundamental physics.
Before joining the University of Kansas, Professor Kong was a Research Associate in the Theoretical Physics Departments at Fermilab and SLAC. He earned his PhD in Physics from the University of Florida, and his MS and BS degrees in Physics from Pusan National University. His contributions to research and teaching have been recognized with numerous honors, including the University Scholarly Achievement Award, Department Graduate and Undergraduate Teacher of the Year awards, the NSF EPSCoR First Award, and the Outstanding Young Researcher Award from the Association of Korean Physicists in America.
You can register for this talk here.
