Kitaev developed foundational approaches to protecting quantum information, including computation with anyons and the oscillator encoding now known as the Gottesman–Kitaev–Preskill code.
CaltecharXiv / Annals of PhysicsarXiv / Physical Review AKitaev’s work changes how quantum information can be represented and protected. His anyon construction connects fault-tolerant operations to the structure of a two-dimensional quantum system. With Gottesman and Preskill, he also showed how a discrete logical qubit could be embedded in a continuous-variable oscillator and protected against small shifts. These ideas provide architectural building blocks across different hardware programs. They are theoretical constructions whose physical realization requires additional experimental control and error-management work.
CaltecharXiv / Annals of PhysicsarXiv / Physical Review AThe work behind the recognition
Work, in context- 1997
Computation with anyons
Kitaev proposed using anyonic excitations in a two-dimensional quantum system to perform quantum computation through their motion and fusion. The preprint introduced an intrinsically protected approach to quantum operations; the journal version appeared in 2003.
Sole author of the anyon-computation proposal; the claim concerns a theoretical construction.
Source-supported recordarXiv / Annals of Physics - 2001
The GKP oscillator encoding
With Daniel Gottesman and John Preskill, Kitaev constructed codes that embed a logical system in an oscillator and protect against small shifts of its continuous variables. The work connects error correction with optical control operations.
Coauthor with Daniel Gottesman and John Preskill of the oscillator-encoding construction.
Source-supported recordarXiv / Physical Review A
Keep in perspective
Theoretical fault tolerance is distinguished from a demonstrated scalable machine.
The evidence map
Both views link each contribution to its sources. Choose a contribution on the map or read them all in the list.
Computation with anyons
Fault-tolerant quantum computation by anyons
Supports: Single authorship, topological computational construction and 2003 journal reference.
Published 9 Jul 1997 · Checked 19 Sept 2026Credit & limits: Sole author of the anyon-computation proposal; the claim concerns a theoretical construction.
Read the full contribution| Contribution | Evidence & what it supports | Credit & limits |
|---|---|---|
| Computation with anyons1997 | Primary paperFault-tolerant quantum computation by anyons Single authorship, topological computational construction and 2003 journal reference. Published 9 Jul 1997 · Checked 19 Sept 2026 | Sole author of the anyon-computation proposal; the claim concerns a theoretical construction. |
| The GKP oscillator encoding2001 | Primary paperEncoding a qubit in an oscillator Gottesman, Kitaev and Preskill authorship; shift-error protection; 2001 journal reference. Published 8 Aug 2000 · Checked 19 Sept 2026 | Coauthor with Daniel Gottesman and John Preskill of the oscillator-encoding construction. |
Follow the evidence
3 sourcesPrimary papers, institutional records and attributed announcements. Each source supports the claims linked above.
- CaltechInstitutional record
Alexei Kitaev
Current named professorship in theoretical physics and mathematics.
Checked 19 Sept 2026 - arXiv / Annals of PhysicsPrimary paper
Fault-tolerant quantum computation by anyons
Single authorship, topological computational construction and 2003 journal reference.
Published 9 Jul 1997 · Checked 19 Sept 2026 - arXiv / Physical Review APrimary paper
Encoding a qubit in an oscillator
Gottesman, Kitaev and Preskill authorship; shift-error protection; 2001 journal reference.
Published 8 Aug 2000 · Checked 19 Sept 2026