Wayne Witzel

Quantum Computer Science

Author profile picture

Quantum Computer Science

wwitzel@sandia.gov

Versatile Formal Methods Applied to Quantum Information

Prove-It Web Pages

(505) 844-8330

Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico
 P.O. Box 5800
 Albuquerque, NM 87185-1322

Biography

My primary research is in quantum information.  I have pioneered cluster expansion methods for calculating the decoherence rate of a spin qubit in the presence of impurity nuclear and electron spins.  I’ve also studied dynamical decoupling strategies in this context.  I’ve broadened my research into more general considerations of robust quantum gate operations, particularly in the context of nuclear spin qubits.  I’ve been devising and comparing two-qubit gate operations involving electron and nuclear spin qubits.

I have also been working on formal verification of quantum algorithms, along with collaborators at the University of New Mexico, using our general-purpose theorem proving system in Python called Prove-It.  This is a set-theory based formals theorems that renders statements into LaTeX-generated images that can be readily understood by subject matter experts.  We even include quantum circuit diagrams in formal statements as demonstrated in our proofs related to the quantum phase estimation algorithm.

Education

Fall 2002 – Spring 2007, PhD in Physics at the University of Maryland under the direction of Distinguished University Professor Sankar Das Sarma.

Spring 2000 – Fall 2002, Computer Professional at the Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute at the University of Utah.

Fall 1995 – Spring 2000, BS in Computer Science and BS in Physics at the University of Utah.

Publications

  • Witzel, W., Craft, W., Carr, R., Madrid Larranaga, J., & Madrid Larranaga, J. (2021). Prove-It: A Proof Assistant for Organizing and Verifying General Mathematical Knowledge [Conference Paper]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1843318 Publication ID: 75179
  • Grace, M., Young, K., Lutz, J., Witzel, W., & Witzel, W. (2020). Long-Time Noise Properties of an Isotopically- Enriched Silicon Nuclear-Spin Bath [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1767101 Publication ID: 72702
  • Baczewski, A., Brickson, M., Campbell, Q., Jacobson, N., Maurer, L., Witzel, W., Misra, S., Luhman, D., & Luhman, D. (2019). Modeling the electronic structure and dynamics of semiconductor quantum devices [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1642785 Publication ID: 65565
  • Witzel, W., Rudinger, K., Carr, R., Madrid Larranaga, J., Wingo, J., Craft, W., Kapur, D., Sarovar, M., & Sarovar, M. (2019). Quantum Algorithm Verification Using Prove-It [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1807159 Publication ID: 70264
  • Witzel, W. (2019). Quantum Circuit and Algorithm Validation with Prove-It [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1639279 Publication ID: 67303
  • Sarovar, M., Witzel, W., Baczewski, A., & Baczewski, A. (2019). Optimization Verification and Engineered Reliability of Quantum Computers (OVER-QC) [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1592589 Publication ID: 64334
  • Witzel, W. (2018). Prove-It: A Powerful Theorem Prover [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1761359 Publication ID: 60644
  • Baczewski, A., Witzel, W., Jacobson, N., Jock, R., Sharma, P., Vudatha, R., Ward, D., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2018). Towards a disorder model for the Si/SiO2 interface [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1574562 Publication ID: 60155
  • Jock, R., Rudolph, M., Jacobson, N., Ward, D., Harvey-Collard, P., Bureau-Oxton, C., Srinivasa, V., Mounce, A., Anderson, J., Manginell, R., Wendt, J., Pluym, T., Baczewski, A., Grace, M., Witzel, W., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2018). Spin-Orbit Qubits in the Sandia Silicon MOS Multi-QD Platform [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1593003 Publication ID: 59778
  • Witzel, W., Grace, M., Carroll, M., Ladd, T., & Ladd, T. (2018). Modeling of Low-Frequency Nuclear Magnetic Noise in Silicon Qubits [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1576181 Publication ID: 63555
  • Carroll, M., Harvey-Collard, P., Jacobson, N., Jock, R., Mounce, A., Srinivasa, V., Ward, D., Wendt, J., Rudolph, M., Pluym, T., Gamble, J., Witzel, W., & Witzel, W. (2018). Implications of the Spin-Orbit Effect for Singlet-Triplet Qubit Operation [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1498242 Publication ID: 60884
  • Jacobson, N., Jock, R., Harvey-Collard, P., Mounce, A., Srinivasa, V., Ward, D., Anderson, J., Manginell, R., Wendt, J., Rudolph, M., Pluym, T., Gamble, J., Baczewski, A., Witzel, W., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2017). Probing low noise at the MOS interface with a spin-orbit qubit [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1465088 Publication ID: 57998
  • Witzel, W., Grace, M., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2017). Dynamics of a nuclear spin bath in enriched silicon [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1465079 Publication ID: 57988
  • Jacobson, N., Gamble, J., Srinivasa, V., Baczewski, A., Jock, R., Harvey-Collard, P., Mounce, A., Rudolph, M., Witzel, W., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2017). Theory of a silicon MOS spin-orbit singlet-triplet qubit [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1465090 Publication ID: 58000
  • Jock, R., Jacobson, N., Harvey-Collard, P., Mounce, A., Srinivasa, V., Ward, D., Manginell, R., Wendt, J., Rudolph, M., Pluym, T., Gamble, J., Baczewski, A., Witzel, W., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2017). Probing low noise at the MOS interface with a Spin-Orbit Singlet-Triplet Qubit [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1508714 Publication ID: 58015
  • Witzel, W., Montano, I., Muller, R., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2016). Exploiting Adiabaticity and Spin Refocusing for Circuit Model Multi-Qubit Gates [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1366889 Publication ID: 50744
  • Witzel, W., Rudinger, K., Sarovar, M., Carr, R., & Carr, R. (2016). Formal Computer Validation of the Quantum Phase Estimation Algorithm [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1348125 Publication ID: 48844
  • Tracy, L., Luhman, D., Carr, S., Borchardt, J., Bishop, N., Ten Eyck, G., Pluym, T., Wendt, J., Witzel, W., Blume-Kohout, R., Nielsen, E., Lilly, M., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2016). ESR Experiments on a Single Donor Electron in Isotopically Enriched Silicon [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1346321 Publication ID: 48690
  • Tracy, L., Luhman, D., Carr, S., Borchardt, J., Bishop, N., Ten Eyck, G., Pluym, T., Wendt, J., Witzel, W., Blume-Kohout, R., Nielsen, E., Lilly, M., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2016). ESR Experiments on a Single Donor Electron in Isotopically Enriched Silicon [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1346320 Publication ID: 48689
  • Witzel, W., Rudinger, K., Sarovar, M., & Sarovar, M. (2015). Versatile Formal Methods Applied to Quantum Information. https://doi.org/10.2172/1331534 Publication ID: 46436
  • Tracy, L., Luhman, D., Carr, S., Borchardt, J., Bishop, N., Ten Eyck, G., Pluym, T., Wendt, J., Witzel, W., Blume-Kohout, R., Nielsen, E., Lilly, M., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2015). ESR Experiments on a Single Donor Electron in Isotopically Enriched Silicon [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1576150 Publication ID: 46278
  • Muller, R., Baczewski, A., Blume-Kohout, R., Carroll, M., Gamble, J., Gao, X., Jacobson, N., Montano, I., Nielsen, E., Rudinger, K., Witzel, W., & Witzel, W. (2015). Silicon Device Modeling: From Atoms to Hilbert Spaces [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1307270 Publication ID: 45151
  • Tracy, L., Luhman, D., Witzel, W., Blume-Kohout, R., Nielsen, E., Carr, S., Borchardt, J., Bishop, N., Ten Eyck, G., Pluym, T., Wendt, J., Lilly, M., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2015). Readout and Characterization of a P Donor Qubit in 28Si [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1327498 Publication ID: 44823
  • Luhman, D., Tracy, L., Witzel, W., Carr, S., Borchardt, J., Biship, N., Ten Eyck, G., Pluym, T., Wendt, J., Blume-Kohout, R., Nielsen, E., Lilly, M., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2015). Electron Spin Resonance of a Phosphorous Donor Qubit in Enriched Silicon [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1327518 Publication ID: 44790
  • Luhman, D., Tracy, L., Witzel, W., Carr, S., Borchardt, J., Bishop, N., Ten Eyck, G., Pluym, T., Wendt, J., Blume-Kohout, R., Nielsen, E., Lilly, M., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2015). Electron Spin Resonance of a Phosphorous Donor Qubit in Enriched Silicon [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1327517 Publication ID: 44789
  • Jacobson, N., Gamble, J., Baczewski, A., Witzel, W., Montano, I., Nielsen, E., Muller, R., Frees, A., & Frees, A. (2015). Multi-valley effective mass theory for device-level modeling of open quantum dynamics [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1240250 Publication ID: 42254
  • Witzel, W., Young, K., Das Sarma, S., & Das Sarma, S. (2014). Converting a real quantum bath to an effective classical noise. Physical Review B, 90(11). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.90.115431 Publication ID: 37521
  • Witzel, W., Carroll, M., Muller, R., & Muller, R. (2014). Gap protection and dynamical decoupling for reliable multi-qubit gates [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1494431 Publication ID: 37747
  • Witzel, W. (2013). Converting a real quantum bath to an effective classical noise [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1115239 Publication ID: 35347
  • Witzel, W., Young, K., & Young, K. (2013). Converting a real quantum bath to an effective classical noise. Physical Review Letters. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1107036 Publication ID: 34440
  • Witzel, W., Young, K., & Young, K. (2013). Spin-bath noise correlation functions from quantum microscopic models. Physical Review Letters. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1083693 Publication ID: 34097
  • Witzel, W., Young, K., & Young, K. (2013). Spin-bath autocorrelation functions directly from quantum theory [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1145323 Publication ID: 32569
  • Jacobson, N., Witzel, W., Nielsen, E., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2013). Dynamically corrected gates for singlet-triplet spin qubits with control-dependent errors [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1658053 Publication ID: 32568
  • Witzel, W., Young, K., & Young, K. (2013). Bath-specific dynamical decoupling in enriched Si [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1649690 Publication ID: 31590
  • Nguyen, K., Stevens, J., Grubbs, R., Pluym, T., Dominguez, J., Muller, R., Carroll, M., Jacobson, N., Witzel, W., Bishop, N., Tracy, L., Carr, S., Lu, T., Wendt, J., & Wendt, J. (2012). Pulsed electron transition measurements in a silicon double quantum dot [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1294362 Publication ID: 28966
  • Jacobson, N., Witzel, W., Nguyen, K., Lilly, M., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2012). Modeling of Relaxation in DQDs and Implications for Adiabaticity [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1650260 Publication ID: 28783
  • Carroll, M., Ten Eyck, G., Carr, S., Witzel, W., Dominguez, J., Rahman, R., Nielsen, E., Lu, T., Lilly, M., Jacobson, N., & Jacobson, N. (2012). STM fabrication of double quantum dot charge qubits for adiabatic quantum computing [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1073413 Publication ID: 28535
  • Carroll, M., Witzel, W., & Witzel, W. (2012). Optimized pulses for the control of uncertain qubits. Physical Review A – Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 85(5). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.85.052313 Publication ID: 25914
  • Witzel, W., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2012). Quantum Decoherence of the Central Spin in a Sparse System of Dipolar Coupled Spins. Physical Review B, 86(3). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.86.035452 Publication ID: 27612
  • Witzel, W. (2012). Suppression of decoherence due to spin diffusion for bismuth qubits in silicon. Physical Review Letters. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1141103 Publication ID: 27289
  • Witzel, W. (2011). Quantum control of hybrid nuclear-electronic qubits. Nature. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1113298 Publication ID: 25726
  • Muller, R., Bishop, N., Lu, T., Pluym, T., Bielejec, E.S., Lilly, M., Landahl, A., Carroll, M., Young, R., Nielsen, E., Rahman, R., Witzel, W., Gao, X., Tracy, L., Bussmann, E., & Bussmann, E. (2011). Development of few-electron Si quantum dots for use as qubits [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1113275 Publication ID: 25725
  • Witzel, W., Rahman, R., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2011). Spin-Bath Decoherence of a Si/SiGe Quantum Dot [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1688663 Publication ID: 23913
  • Witzel, W., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2011). Copy of Noisy (spin) neighbors of a solid state (spin) qubit [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1140901 Publication ID: 21967
  • Witzel, W. (2011). Single-Photon Excitation Lost in the Multi-Exciton Maze of a Nanocrystal [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1120875 Publication ID: 21302
  • Grace, M., Witzel, W., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2010). Combining DD with optimal control for improved QIP [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1039002 Publication ID: 21095
  • Witzel, W., Landahl, A., & Landahl, A. (2010). Workshop: Control and optimization of open quantum systems [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1675295 Publication ID: 19671
  • Witzel, W., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2010). Electron spin decoherence in isotopice-enriched silicon [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1024455 Publication ID: 19611
  • Witzel, W., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2010). Electron spin decoherence in isotope-enriched silicon. Physical Review Letters, 105(18). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.187602 Publication ID: 19548
  • Witzel, W. (2010). Electron Spin Coherence of Phosphorus Donors in Silicon: Effect of Environmental Nuclei. Physical Review B. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1142072 Publication ID: 19129
  • Witzel, W. (2010). Single-Photon Excitation Lost in the Multi-Exciton Maze of a Nanocrystal. Physical Review Letters, 105(13). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.137401 Publication ID: 18461
  • Witzel, W. (2010). Electron spin coherence and electron nuclear double resonance of Bi donors in natural Si. Physical Review Letters. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1124287 Publication ID: 17883
  • Witzel, W., Muller, R., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2010). Coherence of Donor Electron Spins in Isotopically Enriched Silicon [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1124355 Publication ID: 17726
  • Carroll, M., Witzel, W., & Witzel, W. (2010). Combining dynamical decoupling with optimal control for improved QIP [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/989389 Publication ID: 17481
  • Witzel, W., Muller, R., Carroll, M., & Carroll, M. (2010). Coherence of Donor Electron Spins in Isotopically Enriched Silicon [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1124456 Publication ID: 17252
Showing 10 of 55 publications.

Software

Prove-It