WE are considering applications from bright and motivated students for thesis projects WITHIN the active RESEARCH LINES of the group, also in collaboration with colleagues and research institutions abroad.

THE AREAS OF INTERESTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
- THE INTERFACE BETWEEN CONTROL THEORY, INFORMATION THEORY AND PHYSICS;
- DYNAMICS ON NETWORKS AND THEIR STABILITY;
- STOCHASTIC PROCESSES AND OPTIMIZATION METHODS;
- INFORMATION ENCODING AND PROTECTION.
The FINAL THESIS’ TOPIC WILL BE TAiLORED TO THE STUDENT’S INTERESTS AND NEEDS.

SEE the end of the page for a lisT OF PAST THESIS STUDENTS. MANY OF THEM PUBLISHED PART OF THEIR THESIS WORK IN INTERNATIONAL JOURNALS OR CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS.

The Thesis on quantum control and information theory will include a period of guided introduction to the field and the subtopic of interest.
INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM INFORMATION AND CONTROL - Slides for students: QInfo&Control.pdf

For information contact: ticozzi@dei.unipd.it
See also the AUTOMATICA GROUP page for a presentation of the other research areas in control & estimation.
 

1. 1.Controllability of networks: Influence of Structure and Memory
   

2. 2.Switching Positive Systems and Optimal Switching Stabilization
   

3. 3.Stabilization in for probability distributions vs stabilization for expectations,
   moment problems and applications
   

4. 4.Optimal Coherent Engineering of Open Dynamics
   

5. 5.Optimal control design a la Krotov and application to Open Quantum Systems
   

6. 6.New Methods for Quantum Consensus and Synchronization
   

7. 7.What is a fair comparison between measurement-based feedback and coherent feedback. And, by the way, what is feedback?
   

Time, equilibria and control

8. 8.Adiabatic-Type Theorems and Control Timescales
   

9. 9. Quantum Master Equation Models: Markov, Non-Markov, and what else?
   

10. 10. Time-reversal and Detailed Balance for Quantum Evolutions
    

11. 11. Understanding Speed Limits in control, and Lieb-Robinson’s Bounds
    

12. 12. Time-scales and Meta-Stable Sets
    

13. 13. Behavioral systems and non-commutative signals
    

 
Quantum information and THERMODYNAMICS

14. 14. Simulating Grover’s search algorithm with a lifted Markov chain
    

15. 15. Simulating quantum hitting time algorithms
    

16. 16. Quantum machine learning
    

17. 17. Classical vs. Quantum Thermodynamics, and Control
    

18. 18. Metropolis and Gibbs Sampling, theory, applications and extensions
    

19. 19. Classical and quantum compressive sensing
    

20. 20. Classical and quantum simulated annealing
    

21. 21. Robustness in dissipative QIP
    

22. 22. Np hard  problems in control: could a Quantum Computer help?
    
    
    FORMER THESIS STUDENTS, PROJECTS AND THEIR PUBLICATIONS:
    
    Angela Fontan, 2016. Master Thesis on non-trivial equilibria of cooperative nonlinear dynamics. Co-advised with Prof. Altafini, Linkoping University, Sweden, where now Angela is doing her Ph.D. . Publication in preparation.
      
    

Luca Zuccato, 2015. Master Thesis on von Neumann’s alternating projection theorem, extensions
and applications. Related publication:
Alternating Projections Methods for Discrete-time Stabilization of Quantum States.
F. Ticozzi, L. Zuccato, P. D. Johnson, L. Viola  Submitted, 2016. [https://arxiv.org/abs/1612.05554]

Antonio Orvieto, 2015. Bachelor Thesis on quantum probability approaches to quantum mechanics
and its fundamental issues.

 

Luca Tosetto, 2014. Master Thesis on Model-predictive control: from theory to applications in
driving simulators.

  

Ilaria Panardo, 2014. Master Thesis on Periodic system in control theory and applications.

  

Precious Ugo Abara, 2014. Master Thesis on Stability of nonlinear network dynamics. Co-advised with Prof. Altafini, Linkoping University, Sweden. Related publications:
Spectral conditions for existence, uniqueness and stability of positive equilibria for a class of nonlinear cooperative systems. P. Ugo Abara, F. Ticozzi, C. Altafini. Submitted,  2015.
Existence and stability properties of positive equilibria for a class of nonlinear cooperative systems.
P. Ugo Abara, F. Ticozzi, C. Altafini. 54th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control proceedings, 2015.

Pierre Scaramuzza, 2014. Master Thesis on Switching methods for controlled quantum dynamics. Related publications:
Switching Quantum Dynamics for Fast Stabilization.
P. Scaramuzza, F. Ticozzi. Physical Review A, 91, 062314,  2015. [preprint] [online]
Switching quantum dynamics for fast preparation of pure states.
P. Scaramuzza, F. Ticozzi. 54th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control proceedings, 2015.

Giuseppe Ilario Cirillo, 2014. Master Thesis on Invariance and Convergence for Discrete-Time Quantum Dynamical Semigroups. Related publication:
Decompositions of Hilbert Spaces, Stability Analysis and Convergence Probabilities for Discrete-Time Quantum Dynamical Semigroups. G. I. Cirillo, F. Ticozzi. Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical, 48(8):085302, 2015.
[http://arxiv.org/abs/1407.2566][online]

 

Alberto Dalla Libera, 2012. Bachelor Thesis on quantum walks.

 

Marco Gazzola, 2012. Bachelor Thesis on dissipative systems and feedback interconnections.
 

Giacomo Baggio, 2011. Bachelor Thesis, research project on discrete-time feedback for state stabilization. Related publication :
Quantum State Preparation by Controlled Dissipation in Finite Time: From Classical to Quantum Controllers
G. Baggio, F. Ticozzi and L. Viola, 51st IEEE Conference on Decision and Control proceedings, 2012.[preprint]

 

Stefano Patron, 2011. Bachelor Thesis, research project on conditions for convergence in consensus: an analysis of limit cases.

 

Riccardo Lucchese, 2010. Bachelor Thesis, research project on speed of convergence of quantum dynamical semigroups. Related publications:
Hamiltonian Control of Quantum Dynamical Semigroups: Stabilization and Convergence Speed.
F. Ticozzi, R. Lucchese, P. Cappellaro, and L. Viola, IEEE Transactions of Automatic Control, 57(8): 1931-1944, 2012.  [online]  [preprint]
Computing and controlling the convergence speed of a quantum dynamical semigroup.
R. Lucchese and F. Ticozzi, IEEE CDC 2010 conference proceedings, 3022-3027, Dec. 2010.
[online]

Francesco Guarato, 2008 Master Thesis, research project on Lyapunov analysis of discrete-time feedback control of quantum systems, co-advised with Prof. M. Pavon.

 

Enrico Avventi, 2005 Master Thesis, research project on Hamiltonian compensation of quantum jumps, co-advised with Prof. M. Pavon and Prof. A. Ferrante.