Professor in Computer Science
HDR Computer Science
PhD Quantum Theoretical Physics
MSc Theoretical Physics of Complex Systems
MSc Theoretical Economics


I am professor at Aix-Marseille University and researcher in the CaNa team of the LIS. I got my habilitation (HDR) in Computer Science at AMU and earlier on I did my Ph.D in Theoretical Quantum Physics at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Sorbonne Université).
My research activities take place in theoretical computer science and deals with quantum cellular automata, simulations, models and algorithms.
​
I am currently coordinator of the ANR-JCJC DisQC and scientific coordinator of the PEPR EPiQ and QuantEdu-France for AMU. Since 2024 I am consultant on quantum technologies for the “Digital, ICT” expert group for MER and the Hub France 2030.
​
I am member of the Scientific Council (CSI) of the INS2I since 2021.
​
I also animate the quantum activities at the LIS (give a look here)
Get in touch!​​
​
My book on Quantum Walks and limits is out
1st edition, 2024
PhD Students
( 01 )
Alana Spak dos Santos (2024–, UFPR, 50%, co-directed with Renato Moreira Angelo, PU UFPR) on Thermalization and equilibration via quantum walks in energy space
Niccolo Fonio (2023–, AMU, 50%, co-directed with Pierre Sagaut, PU AMU) on Quantum methods for fluid dynamics
Ugo Nzongani (2023–, AMU, 50%, co-directed with Andrea Simonetto, PU ENSTA) on Noisy Variational Quantum Circuits and Optimisation
Andrea Mammola (2023–, AMU, 50%, industrial project CIFRE with C12) on Physical realization of gauge invariant quantum cellular automata
Mathieu Roget (2022–, AMU, 100%) on Distributed Quantum Computing
Xiayou Sun (2022–, AMU, 50% co-directed with Hachem Kadri, MCF AMU) on Noisy Distributed Quantum Computing and machine learning
Casale Balthazar (2020–2023, AMU, 50%, co-directed with Hachem Kadri) on Quantum techniques in machine learning Quantum algorithms have been introduced to recover quantum speed up with respect to classical learning algorithms, such as the quantum perceptron or the quantum best arm identification.
Kevissen Sellapillay (2019–2022, AMU, 50%, co-directed with Alberto Verga, PU AMU) on QCA and topological properties, now post-doc in Jülich
Quantum cellular automata can thermalize. Here we prove that there exist classes of quantum cellular automata which do not fully thermalize and break the ergodic hypothesis, leaving parts of the Hilbert space topologically protected. This paves the way to use such systems as fault-resistant quantum computers.
Nathanaël Eon (2019–2022, AMU, 50%, co-directed with Pablo Arrighi) on Gauge-invariant quantum cellular automata now on a humanitarian mission
Gauge invariance is an internal symmetry well known in physics. All fundamental laws are derived from a gauge principle. Here we define gauge invariant classical and quantum cellular automata for simulating real systems.
Ivan Marquez (2017–2019, AMU & Univ. de Valencia, Spain, 50%, co-supervised with Armando Perez) on Quantum walks: background geometry and gauge invariance. Now cybersecurity consultant at Evolution Empowering the Cloud in Madrid
Quantum walks can simulate curved propagation. Here we investigate the formal connections between general covariance, the first principle for general relativity, and quantum walk, seen as finite quantum circuits.
( 02 )
Recent selected publications

Asian Symposium on Cellular Automata Technology, 72-83 (2024)
A QuantumWalk Based Scheme for Distributed Searching on Arbitrary Graphs with Mathieu Roget
Key words : Distributed Quantum Computing, Quantum Cellular Network, Searching problem
[arXiv]​
​
Physical Review A 110, 042418 (2024)
Dirac quantum walk on tetrahedra with Ugo Nzongani, Nathanaël Eon, Iván Márquez-Martín, Armando Pérez and Pablo Arrighi
Key words : Quantum Walk, Tessellation
​
European Physical Journal D 77:80 (2023)
Twisted quantum walks, generalised Dirac equation and Fermion doubling with Nicolas Jolly
Key words : Quantum Walk, Quantum Simulation, Dirac equation, Fermion doubling problem
​​
Quantum 7, 1179 (2023)
A relativistic discrete spacetime formulation of 3+1 QED with Nathanaël Eon, Giuseppe Magnifico and Pablo Arrighi
Key words : Quantum Simulation, Quantum Cellular Automata, Quantum Electrodynamics
​
​​​
Physical Review B 106 (10), 104309 (2022)
Key words : Quantum Cellular Automata, Entanglement, Toffoli gates, Ergodicity breaking
​
Physical Review A 106 (3), 032408 (2022)
Quantum simulations of hydrodynamics via the Madelung transformation with Julien Zylberman, Marc Brachet, Nuno F Loureiro, and Fabrice Debbasch
Key words : Quantum Walk, Hydrodynamics simulation, Madelung transformation
​
Uncertainty in Artificial Intelligence, 1697-1706 (2022)
Quantum perceptron revisited: Computational-statistical tradeoffs with Hachem Kadri and Mathieu Roget
Key words : Quantum perceptron, quantum machine learning
( 03 )
Research projects
2022–2026 ANR JCJC DisQC, Distributed Quantum Computing ANR National grant/PI and Scientific Coordinator
The ~250k€ (HT) grant will fund a three years PhD. The overall project intends to bring together scientific experts from the disciplines of quantum computing, distributed algorithm and complexity, to work together towards the common goal of 1) exploring and exploiting further synergies between these fields, 2) identifying fundamental strategies and methods to design fault-tolerant quantum algorithms, and 3) developing new ideas for implementing quantum algorithms on distributed architecture.
​
2022–2025 AMIDEX grant, Algorithms, Quantum Error Correcting codes and implementations in distributed quantum computing/ PI and Scientific Coordinator
The ~100k€ (HT) grant will fund a two years postdoc.
​
2022–2028 PEPR on Quantum Technologies EPiQ /ANR National grant/PI and Local leader
Member of the consortium of the large scale national initiative on quantum technology. I am the local leader of the consortium. The ~300k€ (HT) grant will fund a two years postdoc on formal methods and a three years PhD on quantum distributed algorithms.
2019–2022/2023–2026 Quantum Information Structure of Spacetime JTF Large grant, 2M € - PI
I contributed to compose this 14 site international consortium made of top researchers, worldwide. I was PI for the LIS partner in the first phase (2019–2022) and I am affiliated in the second phase (2023–2026).
The following is a membership:
2019-2023 Quantum Machine Learning ANR JCJC at LIS, 214k €
​
​
Closed :
​
2021 Fault Invariant Distributed Quantum Algorithm /QuAlgo
Volet exploratoire INS2I 20k € - PI and Scientific Coordinator
2019-2021 Discrete Time Quantum Simulator Pépinière d’excellence AMIDEX, 25k € - PI and Scientific Coordinator
2018-2021 Quantum Walk and geometry PICS CNRS France-Espagne, 12k € - PI and Scientific Coordinator
2018 Lattice Quantum Simulation Theory / LaQuSim, Infiniti CNRS, PI and Scientific Coordinator
2017 Quantum networks and Growing /QuNet, JCJC INS2I, PI and Scientific Coordinator
​
( 04)
Teaching
@all my students : rendez-vous sur AMETICE pour vos cours
During my PhD, I had the opportunity to teach at the Sorbonne’s physics department 64h per year (statistical physics, electromagnetism, classical mechanics). Since my recruitment at the Department of Informatics and Interactions at Aix-Marseille University, I have taught at all levels (∼220h/y). Below is a summary list:
​
Courses/Master and PhD level
2024/2025 Introductory Quantum Computing for IA (M2, Ecole Centrale de Marseille)
2023/2024 Quantum Algorithms (ED184, AMU)
2024/2025 Advanced Quantum Computation and Information (M2, AMU) with Ravi Kunjwal
2021/2022 Quantum Machine Learning ED184, AMU, taught in english
2021/2022 Quantum Cryptography M2 FSI, AMU
2020/2021 Computer Security Watch M2 FSI, AMU
2016–2023 Models of Natural Computing M2 IMD, AMU
2018/2019 Security, Internet, Networks M1 FSI, AMU
2016– 2020 Complexity Theory M1 Informatique, AMU
2018–today Quantum Computation M1 Informatique, AMU
​
Courses/Undergraduate level
2022/2023 Algorithms 1, L2, AMU
2022–today Introduction to quantum computing, L2 -MPCI, AMU
2018-2021 Probability for computer scientists L2, AMU
2016–2021 Introduction to informatics L1, AMU
Research schools
2022 and 2024 Lecture on "Quantum Boltzmann Machines" at the von Karman Institut (NATO research institute, Belgium) during a research schools on quantum computing in fluid dynamics.
​
2022 Series of lectures "Quantum natural computing: from simulation to algorithms", at Univ. Buenos Aires, for the ECI22
​​​
