Quantum Cellular Automata and Quantum Phases of Matter

This lecture, presented by Lukasz Fidkowski from the University of Washington, explores the relationship between quantum cellular automata and quantum phases of matter. Recorded during the Generalized Symmetries: High-Energy, Condensed Matter and Mathematics conference at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP) at UC Santa Barbara in April 2025, the 44-minute talk contributes to a broader discussion on how symmetries can be interpreted through topological defects acting on operator spaces. Delve into the significant advancements in quantum field theory over the past decade, examining how generalized notions of symmetries reveal unexpected physical phenomena across condensed matter, high energy physics, and quantum gravity. The conference brought together leading experts to share recent advances and open problems in the field, coordinated by Maissam Barkeshli, Michele Del Zotto, Sakura Schafer-Nameki, and Shu-Heng Shao.