http://www.thomaswong.net/#publications Menu Thomas Wong Physicist * Computer Scientist * Quantum Information Scientist Biography Publications Presentations Press Teaching Contact Picture Biography Dr. Tom Wong is an American physicist and computer scientist who investigates quantum algorithms, and he is best known for researching how quantum computers search for information in databases and networks. Tom is a tenure-track assistant professor of physics at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, but he is currently a visiting assistant professor of physics at the Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the University of Maryland College Park. Tom is the author of the textbook, Introduction to Classical and Quantum Computing, whose only prerequisite is trigonometry. He is also the creator of Qubit Touchdown, a board game that teaches single-qubit gates with an American football theme. Tom is a former high school teacher; before graduate school, he was a math teacher at an inner-city high school. Prior to joining Creighton, Tom was a postdoctoral researcher in computer science at the University of Texas at Austin under Dr. Scott Aaronson. Before that, he was a postdoctoral researcher in computer science at the University of Latvia under Dr. Andris Ambainis. Tom earned a PhD in theoretical physics from UC San Diego under Dr. David Meyer, and his dissertation was selected as the best thesis in the Division of Physical Sciences. Tom graduated from Santa Clara University, triple majoring in physics, computer science, and mathematics while minoring in urban education. While in graduate school, Tom designed, built, and programmed a photo booth, which he turned into a successful business. While in undergrad, Tom interned for IBM for two years, where he created a system to manage test software for enterprise disk storage systems. As an Eagle Scout, Tom enjoys backpacking and the outdoors. He also plays guitar, renovates homes, and enjoys open source software. He also serves on the editorial board of Quantum Information Processing, a quantum computing journal published by Springer Nature. Tweets by @thomasgwong Publications Textbook: Introduction to Classical and Quantum Computing Cover of Textbook * First Edition + Published January 21, 2022 + 400 Pages, 247 Exercises + Free eBook (16 MB) + Paperback (Amazon) + Hardcover (Amazon) * Zeroth Edition (Preprint) + Published January 5, 2022 + 392 Pages, 239 Exercises + Free eBook (16 MB) Introduction to Classical and Quantum Computing is for students who want to learn quantum computing beyond a conceptual level, but who lack advanced training in mathematics. The only prerequisite is trigonometry, and mathematics beyond that will be covered, including linear algebra. This book is suitable as a course textbook or for independent study. The text begins with a significant overview of classical computing, from how they add numbers to their computational limits, and it mirrors many of the quantum computing topics that are covered later. Then, the investigation of quantum computing begins with a single qubit and quantum gates acting on it, first using geometry and elementary algebra, and later using linear algebra. Computer algebra systems are utilized, and code for both Mathematica and SageMath is included. After one qubit, multi-qubit systems are covered, including how quantum computers add numbers, universal gate sets, and error correction. After this, readers learn how to program quantum circuits on actual quantum processors using IBM Quantum Experience. Afterward, entanglement and quantum protocols are explored. Finally, quantum algorithms are examined, culminating in Shor's algorithm for factoring. Abundant use of the Quirk quantum simulator is used throughout. Finally, a short discussion of careers in quantum computing is provided, along with some possible technical topics to learn next. The textbook is based on an introductory quantum computing course that I've been teaching at Creighton University since 2018. From the beginning, I wrote all my lecture notes and homework problems in a textbook format using LaTeX, and now they're available to everyone. Research Papers Research Mind Map Year No. Title. Authors. Journal. 2021 39 Search by Lackadaisical Quantum Walk with Symmetry Breaking J. Rapoza (Undergraduate) and T. G. Wong Physical Review A 104, 062211 (2021) | arXiv:2108.13856 2021 38 Implementing Quantum Gates Using Length-3 Dynamic Quantum Walks I. A. Adisa (Master's Student) and T. G. Wong Physical Review A 104, 042604 (2021) | arXiv:2108.01055 2021 37 Equivalent Laplacian and Adjacency Quantum Walks on Irregular Graphs T. G. Wong and J. Lockhart Physical Review A 104, 042221 (2021) | arXiv:2107.05580 2021 36 Simplifying Continuous-Time Quantum Walks on Dynamic Graphs R. Herrman and T. G. Wong Quantum Information Processing 21, 54 (2022) | arXiv:2106.06015 2020 35 Unstructured Search by Random and Quantum Walk T. G. Wong Quantum Information and Computation 22, 53 (2022) | arXiv:2011.14533 2020 34 Search on Vertex-Transitive Graphs by Lackadaisical Quantum Walk M. L. Rhodes (Undergraduate) and T. G. Wong Quantum Information Processing 19, 334 (2020) | arXiv:2002.11227 2019 33 Isolated Vertices in Continuous-Time Quantum Walks on Dynamic Graphs T. G. Wong Physical Review A 100, 062325 (2019) | arXiv:1908.00507 2019 32 Search by Lackadaisical Quantum Walk with Nonhomogeneous Weights M. L. Rhodes (Undergraduate) and T. G. Wong Physical Review A 100, 042303 (2019) | arXiv:1905.05887 2018 31 Quantum Walk Search on the Complete Bipartite Graph M. L. Rhodes (Undergraduate) and T. G. Wong Physical Review A 99, 032301 (2019) | arXiv:1812.06079 2018 30 Optimal Quantum Walk Search on Kronecker Graphs with Dominant or Fixed Regular Initiators A. Glos (PhD Student) and T. G. Wong^ABC Physical Review A 98, 062334 (2018) | arXiv:1809.01249 2018 29 Quantum Walk Search on Kronecker Graphs T. G. Wong, K. Wunscher (Master's Student), J. Lockhart (PhD Student), and S. Severini Physical Review A 98, 012338 (2018) | arXiv:1804.10560 2017 28 Faster Search by Lackadaisical Quantum Walk T. G. Wong Quantum Information Processing 17, 68 (2018) | arXiv:1706.06939 2017 27 Coined Quantum Walks on Weighted Graphs T. G. Wong Journal of Physics A 50, 475301 (2017) | arXiv:1703.10134 2016 26 Equivalence of Szegedy's and Coined Quantum Walks T. G. Wong Quantum Information Processing 16, 215 (2017) | arXiv:1611.02238 2016 25 Exceptional Quantum Walk Search on the Cycle T. G. Wong and R. A. M. Santos Quantum Information Processing 16, 154 (2017) | arXiv:1610.06075 2016 24 Stationary States in Quantum Walk Search K. Prusis (Master's Student), J. Vihrovs (Master's Student), and T. G. Wong ^ABC Physical Review A 94, 032334 (2016) | arXiv:1608.00136 2016 23 Oscillatory Localization of Quantum Walks Analyzed by Classical Electric Circuits A. Ambainis, K. Prusis (Master's Student), J. Vihrovs (Master's Student), and T. G. Wong ^ABC Physical Review A 94, 062324 (2016) | arXiv:1606.02136 2016 22 Engineering the Success of Quantum Walk Search Using Weighted Graphs T. G. Wong and P. Philipp Physical Review A 94, 022304 (2016) | arXiv:1605.04862 2016 21 Irreconcilable Difference Between Quantum Walks and Adiabatic Quantum Computing T. G. Wong and D. A. Meyer Physical Review A 93, 062313 (2016) | arXiv:1603.05423 2016 20 Quantum Walk Search on Johnson Graphs T. G. Wong Journal of Physics A 49, 195303 (2016) | arXiv:1601.04212 2015 19 Laplacian versus Adjacency Matrix in Quantum Walk Search T. G. Wong, L. Tarrataca, and N. Nahimov Quantum Information Processing 15, 4029 (2016) | arXiv:1512.05554 2015 18 Doubling the Success of Quantum Walk Search Using Internal-State Measurements K. Prusis (Master's Student), J. Vihrovs (Master's Student), and T. G. Wong ^ABC Journal of Physics A 49, 455301 (2016) (In Collection: Highlights of 2016) | arXiv:1511.03865 2015 17 Quantum Walk on the Line through Potential Barriers T. G. Wong Quantum Information Processing 15, 675 (2016) | arXiv:1509.07112 2015 16 Faster Quantum Walk Search on a Weighted Graph T. G. Wong Physical Review A 92, 032320 (2015) | arXiv:1507.07590 2015 15 Correcting for Potential Barriers in Quantum Walk Search A. Ambainis and T. G. Wong ^ABC Quantum Information and Computation 15, 1365 (2015) | arXiv:1505.02035 2015 14 Quantum Walk Search with Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking T. G. Wong Journal of Physics A 48, 405303 (2015) | arXiv:1504.07375 2015 13 Quantum Walk Search through Potential Barriers T. G. Wong Journal of Physics A 49, 484002 (2016) (In Special Issue: Emerging Talents) | arXiv:1503.06605 2015 12 Completeness is Unnecessary for Fast Nonlinear Quantum Search D. A. Meyer and T. G. Wong ^ABC arXiv:1502.06281 2015 11 Quantum Search with Multiple Walk Steps per Oracle Query T. G. Wong and A. Ambainis Physical Review A 92, 022338 (2015) | arXiv:1502.04792 2015 10 Grover Search with Lackadaisical Quantum Walks T. G. Wong Journal of Physics A 48, 435304 (2015) | Corrigendum | arXiv:1502.04567 2015 9 Spatial Search by Continuous-Time Quantum Walk with Multiple Marked Vertices T. G. Wong Quantum Information Processing 15, 1411 (2016) | arXiv:1501.07071 2014 8 Diagrammatic Approach to Quantum Search T. G. Wong Quantum Information Processing 14, 1767 (2015) | arXiv:1410.7201 2014 7 Connectivity is a Poor Indicator of Fast Quantum Search D. A. Meyer and T. G. Wong ^ABC Physical Review Letters 114, 110503 (2015) | arXiv:1409.5876 2014 6 Nonlinear Quantum Search (PhD Dissertation) T. G. Wong UC San Diego (2014) | arXiv:1506.04388 2014 5 Global Symmetry is Unnecessary for Fast Quantum Search J. Janmark (Master's Student), D. A. Meyer, and T. G. Wong ^ ABC Physical Review Letters 112, 210502 (2014) | arXiv:1403.2228 2013 4 Quantum Search with General Nonlinearities D. A. Meyer and T. G. Wong ^ABC Physical Review A 89, 012312 (2014) | arXiv:1310.7301 2013 3 Nonlinear Quantum Search Using the Gross-Pitaevskii Equation D. A. Meyer and T. G. Wong ^ABC New Journal of Physics 15, 063014 (2013) | arXiv:1303.0371 2011 2 Optimal Asset Allocation for Passive Investing with Capital Loss Harvesting D. N. Ostrov and T. G. Wong Applied Mathematical Finance 18, 291 (2011) 2009 1 Treatment of ion-atom collisions using a partial-wave expansion of the projectile wavefunction T. G. Wong, M. Foster, J. Colgan, and D. H. Madison European Journal of Physics 30, 447-452 (2009) | LASS Student Paper (2007) Research Presentations Month/ Title. Event. Location. Year Oct. A Quantum Computing Course at a Liberal Arts University 2021 (Talk). Workshop on Gaps in Postsecondary Quantum Education and Training. College Park, MD (Virtual) Sept. Quantum Information Science: A Global, National, and Local 2021 Perspective (Invited Talk, Highlights). Creighton University Physics Seminar. Omaha, NE (Virtual) Aug. Simplifying dynamic quantum walks for quantum gates (Invited 2021 Talk, Video). Workshop on Algebraic Graph Theory and Quantum Information. The Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences (Virtual) Jul. Equivalent Laplacian and Adjacency Quantum Walks on Irregular 2021 Graphs (Invited Talk, Video). Algebraic Graph Theory Seminar. University of Waterloo (Virtual) Apr. Tutorial on Quantum Walks (Invited Tutorial Talk, Video). 2021 Sixth International Conference for Young Quantum Information Scientists (YQIS 6). Michigan State University (Virtual) Feb. Search on the Complete Graph by Lackadaisical Quantum Walk 2021 (Invited Talk, Video). University of Waterloo Course on Combinatorics and Quantum Walks. Waterloo, CA (Virtual) Oct. Quantum Search on Vertex-Transitive Graphs (Invited Talk). 2020 University of Nebraska Omaha Physics Gateway Course. Omaha, NE (Virtual) Mar. Isolated Vertices in Continuous-Time Quantum Walks on Dynamic 2020 Graphs (Talk, Video, Slides). American Physical Society (APS) March Meeting. Denver, CO (Virtual) Jan. Spatial Search using Lackadaisical Quantum Walks (Invited 2020 Talk, Video). 9th International Conference on Quantum Simulation and Quantum Walks. Marseille, France Dec. Searching the Complete Bipartite Graph using Coined and 2019 Lackadaisical Quantum Walks (Invited Talk). Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS) Winter Meeting 2019. Toronto, Canada Oct. Introduction to Quantum Computing: From Qubits to 2019 Teleportation (Invited Talk). University of Nebraska Omaha Physics Gateway Course. Omaha, NE Feb. Quantum Walk Search on Kronecker Graphs (Poster). 2019 Southwest Quantum Information and Technology Workshop (SQuInT). Albuquerque, NM Feb. Faster Search by Lackadaisical Quantum Walk (Poster). 2018 Southwest Quantum Information and Technology Workshop (SQuInT). Santa Fe, NM Oct. Faster Search by Lackadaisical Quantum Walk (Invited Talk). 2017 Grinnell College Physics Seminar. Grinnell, Iowa June Degenerate Perturbation Theory as a Tool for Quantum Search 2017 (Invited Talk). Canadian Discrete and Algorithmic Mathematics Conference (CanaDAM). Toronto, Canada Apr. Faster Search by Lackadaisical Quantum Walk (Poster). 2017 Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship Spring Meeting. Dayton, OH Feb. Oscillatory Localization of Quantum Walks (Poster). 2017 Southwest Quantum Information and Technology Workshop (SQuInT). Baton Rouge, LA Jan. Irreconcilable Difference Between Quantum Walks and Adiabatic 2017 Quantum Computing (Poster). 20th Conference on Quantum Information Processing (QIP 2017). Seattle, WA Dec. Challenges and Successes in Quantum Search on Graphs (Talk). 2016 UC San Diego, Department of Mathematics San Diego, CA Dec. An Open Problem in Quantum Walk Search (Talk). 2016 Sacred Heart University, Department of Computer Science Fairfield, CT Dec. Quantum Computing with Bose-Einstein Condensates and Effective 2016 Nonlinearities (Talk). Creighton University, Department of Physics Omaha, NE July Laplacian versus Adjacency Matrix in Quantum Walk Search 2016 (Talk). Half-Day Workshop on Theoretical Computer Science. Riga, Latvia Mar. An Irreconcilable Difference Between Quantum Walks and 2016 Adiabatic Quantum Computing (Poster). Aspen Winter Conference on Advances in Quantum Algorithms and Computation. Aspen, CO Feb. Quantum Walks through Potential Barriers (Talk). 2016 University of Latvia's 74th Annual Conference. Riga, Latvia Jan. Quantum Walks through Potential Barriers (Poster). 2016 19th Conference on Quantum Information Processing (QIP 2016). Banff, Canada Dec. Introduction to Quantum Algorithms, Grover Search and Quantum 2015 Walks, and Spatial Search by Quantum Walk (Three Invited Talks). Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI). Daejeon, South Korea Sept. Grover Search with Lackadaisical Quantum Walks (Talk). 2015 QALGO Project Meeting. Riga, Latvia May Grover Search with Lackadaisical Quantum Walks (Talk). 2015 Latvian-Brazillian Informal Workshop. Riga, Latvia May On the Breakdown of Quantum Search with Spatially Distributed 2015 Marked Vertices (Poster). Theory of Quantum Computation, Communication, and Cryptography (TQC 2015). Brussels, Belgium Mar. Quantum Search with Better-than-Quadratic Speedup over 2015 Classical Random Walk (Talk). NASA Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (QuAIL) Seminar. Mountain View, CA Feb. Quantum Computing with Bose-Einstein Condensates and Effective 2015 Nonlinearities (Talk). Santa Clara University Physics Colloquium. Santa Clara, CA Feb. Degenerate Perturbation Theory as a Tool for Quantum Search 2015 (Poster). Southwest Quantum Information and Technology Workshop (SQuInT). Berkeley, CA Feb. Connectivity is a Poor Indicator of Fast Quantum Search 2015 (Talk). University of Latvia's 73rd Annual Conference. Riga, Latvia Feb. Quantum Search with Better-than-Quadratic Speedup over 2015 Classical Random Walk (Talk). University of Latvia, Faculty of Computing. Riga, Latvia Feb. Quantum Search with Better-than-Quadratic Speedup over 2015 Classical Random Walk (Talk). University of Cambridge, Centre for Quantum Information and Foundations (CQIF) Group Meeting. Cambridge, UK Feb. Quantum Computing with Bose-Einstein Condensates and Effective 2015 Nonlinearities (Talk). University of Cambridge, Centre for Quantum Information and Foundations (CQIF) Seminar. Cambridge, UK Nov. Quantum Computing with Bose-Einstein Condensates and Effective 2014 Nonlinearities (Talk). University of Latvia, Quantum Physics Seminar. Riga, Latvia Oct. Degenerate Perturbation Theory as a Tool for Quantum Search 2014 (Talk). Estonian-Latvian Theory Days. Ratnieki, Latvia Sept. Quantum Computing with Bose-Einstein Condensates and Effective 2014 Nonlinearities (Talk). Rice University Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) Physics Seminar. Houston, TX June Nonlinear Quantum Search (Talk). 2014 UC San Diego Department of Computer Science and Engineering. San Diego, CA Mar. Nonlinear Quantum Search (Poster). 2014 Aspen Winter Conference on Advances in Quantum Algorithms and Computation. Aspen, CO Feb. Nonlinear Quantum Search (Poster). 2014 Southwest Quantum Information and Technology Workshop (SQuInT). Santa Fe, NM Feb. Nonlinear Quantum Search (Talk). 2013 Southwest Quantum Information and Technology Workshop (SQuInT). Santa Barbara, CA Feb. Speeding up Grover's algorithm by evolving via the nonlinear 2011 Schrodinger equation. (Poster) Southwest Quantum Information and Technology Workshop (SQuInT). Boulder, CO Aug. Calculation of Differential Cross Sections for Proton-Helium 2007 Collisions Through the Use of High Peformance Computing (Poster). Los Alamos National Laboratories Student and Postdoc Symposium. Los Alamos, NM In the Press Month/ Title. Source. Year Nov. Quantum Computing: History, Advancements, & Applications 2021 with Professor Tom Wong Digital Innovator Podcast July Qubit Touchdown with Tom Wong 2021 Quantum Computing Now Podcast Mar. Could Time Travel Ever Work? 2021 Gizmodo Feb. Tom Wong - Quantum Computing 2021 The Blunt Report Podcast | The Blunt Report YouTube Oct. Google and IBM Clash Over Milestone Quantum Computing 2019 Experiment Quanta Magazine | The Atlantic May 2019 The Physics of Avengers Endgame Medium Apr. A New Approach to Multiplication Opens the Door to Better 2019 Quantum Computers Quanta Magazine Apr. Quantum Computing: A Soccer Analogy 2018 Medium Apr. Tunneling in quantum search: an Emerging Talents Lab Talk 2017 with Thomas Wong JPhys+ Blog Sept. Meet the meQuanics - E19 - Dr. Tom Wong (UT Austin) 2016 YouTube: meQuanics E19 Sept. Ambainis's Gravitational Field (in Latvian) 2016 Ir Magazine (in Latvian) Sept. Boosting database performance for quantum computers 2015 LU Faculty of Computing Press Release Mar. Quantum Information Takes the Connectedness Out of Search 2015 Motherboard Mar. Data structures influence speed of quantum search in 2015 unexpected ways UC San Diego Press Release | Phys.org May 2014 Some Quantum Computing to Go with Your Enterprise? IT Business Edge May 2014 Quantum Computing: Global Symmetry Not Required to Speed Up Quantum Search International Business Times May 2014 New analysis eliminates a potential speed bump in quantum computing Phys.org | reddit July Our nonlinear quantum search results were included in 2013 Wikipedia Wikipedia: Grover's Algorithm June Quantum Computing May Make Big Data Unstructured Search 2013 Lightning Fast 33rd Square June A quantum computing solution for unstructured search 2013 Kurzweil Accelerating Intelligence June New Scheme for Quantum Computing 2013 UC San Diego Press Release | Phys.org | reddit Teaching Courses at Creighton University (Tenure-Track Assistant Professor) Fall 2021 * On leave, visiting the Laboratory for Physical Sciences Qubit Collaboratory Spring 2021 * Physics 202 - General Physics for the Life Sciences II * Physics 471 - Classical Mechanics * Course Release Fall 2020 * Physics 201 - General Physics for the Life Sciences I * Physics 595 - Special Topics: Quantum Computing * Course Release Spring 2020 * Physics 202 - General Physics for the Life Sciences II * Physics 471 - Classical Mechanics * Physics 497/791 - Physics Seminar * RSP 101 - Introduction to the Culture of Collegiate Life Fall 2019 * Physics 201 - General Physics for the Life Sciences I * Physics 531 - Quantum Mechanics * Physics 497/791 - Physics Seminar * RSP 101 - Introduction to the Culture of Collegiate Life Spring 2019 * Physics 202 - General Physics for the Life Sciences II * Physics 471 - Classical Mechanics * Physics 497/791 - Physics Seminar Fall 2018 * Physics 201 - General Physics for the Life Sciences I * Physics 531 - Quantum Mechanics * Physics 595 - Special Topics: Quantum Computing Spring 2018 * Physics 202 - General Physics for the Life Sciences II * Physics 202 - General Physics for the Life Sciences II * Physics 471 - Classical Mechanics Fall 2017 * Physics 201 - General Physics for the Life Sciences I * Physics 531 - Quantum Mechanics * Course Release Courses at the University of San Diego (Adjunct Professor) Spring 2014 * Physics 270 - Introduction to Mechanics (for Majors) Lecture * Physics 137 - Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism (for Non-Majors) Lecture Fall 2013 * Physics 136 - Introduction to Mechanics (for Non-Majors) Lecture * Physics 136 - Introduction to Mechanics (for Non-Majors) Lecture * Physics 136L - Introduction to Mechanics (for Non-Majors) Laboratory Spring 2013 * Physics 271L - Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism (for Non-Majors) Laboratory Courses at Downtown College Prep (High School Teacher) * Period 1: Algebra 1 * Period 2: Algebra 1 * Period 3: Numeracy * Period 4: Numeracy * Period 5: Prep * Period 6: Numeracy * Advisory (45 minute freshman advising course, four days a week, for 16 Students) * Two-week intercession course: Building computers * Two-week intercession course: Soccer Contact Email: Please Click to See My Email Address Twitter: @thomasgwong Page Last Updated: January 21, 2022