Building a quantum future using topological phases of matter and error correction

Quantum Quantum Podcasts Building a quantum future using topological phases of matter and error correction 04 Dec 2025 Hamish Johnston This episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast features Tim Hsieh of Canada’s Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. We explore some of today’s hottest topics in quantum science and technology – including topological phases of matter; quantum error correction and quantum simulation. Our conversation begins with an exploration of the quirky properties quantum matter and how these can be exploited to create quantum technologies. We look at the challenges that must be overcome to create large-scale quantum computers; and Hsieh reveals which problem he would solve first if he had access to a powerful quantum processor. This interview was recorded earlier this autumn when I had the pleasure of visiting the Perimeter Institute and speaking to four physicists about their research. This is the third of those conversations to appear on the podcast. The first interview in this series from the Perimeter Institute was with Javier Toledo-Marín, “Quantum computing and AI join forces for particle physics”; and the second was with Bianca Dittrich, “Quantum gravity: we explore spin foams and other potential solutions to this enduring challenge“. This episode is supported by the APS Global Physics Summit, which takes place on 15–20 March, 2026, in Denver, Colorado, and online. Want to read more? Registration is free, quick and easy Note: The verification e-mail to complete your account registration should arrive immediately. However, in some cases it takes longer. Don't forget to check your spam folder. If you haven't received the e-mail in 24 hours, please contact customerservices@ioppublishing.org. E-mail Address Register Hamish Johnston is an online editor of Physics World Back to Quantum Physics World Quantum Briefing 2.0 Read our free digital issue of the Physics World Quantum Briefing today. Read previous Quantum gravity: we explore spin foams and other potential solutions to this enduring challenge Quantum Podcasts Discover more from Physics World Quantum Podcasts Quantum gravity: we explore spin foams and other potential solutions to this enduring challenge Quantum mechanics Research update Quantum-scale thermodynamics offers a tighter definition of entropy Quantum computing Research update Can fast qubits also be robust? Related jobs United Kingdom | University of Oxford - Department of Physics Associate Professor of Physics (Quantum Technology) United States | Rice University Assistant Professor in Experimental AMO Physics Beijing | Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Faculty Positions in Quantum Computing at Institute of Physics (IOP) Related events Quantum | Conference Q2B25 Silicon Valley: the Roadmap to Quantum Value 9—11 December 2025 | Santa Clara, US Instrumentation and measurement | Meeting Neutron Scattering Group Early Career Meeting 15—16 January 2026 | Bristol, UK Quantum | Workshop Post-selection for quantum control (PoSeQu26) 23—27 February 2026 | Dresden, Germany Copyright © 2025 by IOP Publishing Ltd and individual contributors