The 2008 Prize

Applications

1. Ing. Lubomira Balkova, Ph.D. (1980) presented the thesis Beta-integers and Quasicrystals defended in July 2008 at the Czech Technical University
2. Dr. Thomas Brougham (1979) presented the thesis Joint measurements on qubits and measurement correlations defended in May 2008 at the University of Strathclyde
3. Dr. Sarah Croke (1981) presented the thesis Maximum confidence measurements defended in August 2007 at the University of Strathclyde
4. Mgr. Martin Fraas, Ph.D. (1982) presented the thesis Quantum models with strongly singular interactions defended in June 2008 at the Charles University
5. Ing. Hynek Lavicka, Ph.D. (1978) presented the thesis Simulations of agents on complex networks defended in October 2007 at the Czech Technical University
6. Dr. Roman Orus (1979) presented the thesis Entanglement, quantum phase transitions and quantum algorithms defended in July 2006 at the University of Barcelona
7. Dr. Emilie Passemar (1980) presented the thesis Application of low-energy effective theories (LEET) of the Higgs-less electroweak sector defended in September 2008 at the Universite Paris-Sud, Orsay
8. Ing. Milena Svobodova, Ph.D. (1979) presented the thesis Gradings of Lie algebras defended in December 2007 at the Czech Technical University
9. Mgr. Lenka Zdeborova, Ph.D. (1980) presented the thesis Statistical physics of hard optimization problems defended in June 2008 at Universite Paris-Sud XI

Jury

• Prof. RNDr. Vladimir Buzek, DrSc.
• Prof. Dr. Peter Stollmann
• Doc. RNDr. Milos Zahradnik, CSc., chair

The verdict

At its closing session on November 30, 2008, the jury decided to award the main prize to

• Mgr. Lenka Zdeborova, Ph.D.
  for the thesis Statistical physics of hard optimization problems containing innovative work in the field of computer science and graph theory. It was noted that she used skilfully methods inspired by highly nontrivial techniques developed before in the physics of large systems with random interactions (spin glasses).

The jury also decided to give honourable mentions to three other theses: those of

• Dr. Sarah Croke
  entitled Maximum confidence measurements in which she introduced a novel, so-called the maximum confidence strategy for quantum-state discrimination; she not only investigated theoretically limits of this efficient approach but also she implemented it in a very elegant experiment; of

• Mgr. Martin Fraas, Ph.D.
  entitled Quantum models with strongly singular interactions in which he described novel quantum phenomena in spectral properties and time evolution of quantum models with singular interactions; and of

• Dr. Roman Orus
  entitled Entanglement, quantum phase transitions and quantum algorithms in which he creatively used quantum-information tools to analyze problems in quantum field theory and condensed matter physics. In particular, discovery of a relation between quantum phase transitions and quantum algorithms is of fundamental importance.