Gottesman develops ways to protect quantum information, giving researchers a mathematical language for diagnosing errors while preserving the information a calculation needs.
Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science, University of MarylandarXiv / California Institute of Technology dissertationarXiv / Physical Review AQuantum information cannot be protected by treating an unknown quantum state as an ordinary file to copy. Gottesman’s stabilizer formalism instead supplies a structured language for describing encoded information and the checks used to diagnose errors. His work with Alexei Kitaev and John Preskill on oscillator encoding connects continuous physical systems with discrete logical information. These contributions make the relationship between a code, the operations it supports and its resource cost easier to reason about across hardware platforms. The current QuICS profile identifies him as its co-director and the Brin Family Endowed Professor in Theoretical Computer Science at the University of Maryland, with an appointment in the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies.
Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science, University of MarylandarXiv / California Institute of Technology dissertationarXiv / Physical Review AJoint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science, University of MarylandA useful reading question: what can an error check reveal without exposing the encoded quantum state? Start with the difference between detecting an error, correcting it and performing a protected logical operation. Then ask which physical errors the code is designed to handle.
The work behind the recognition
Work, in context- 1997
Stabilizer codes and error correction
Gottesman’s doctoral thesis developed the stabilizer formalism for quantum error-correcting codes and examined fault-tolerant operations. It provides a structured way to describe encoded quantum information and the checks used to diagnose errors without simply measuring the stored state.
Author of the doctoral thesis developing the stabilizer-code framework and fault-tolerant operations.
Source-supported recordarXiv / California Institute of Technology dissertation - 2001
Encoding a qubit in an oscillator
Gottesman, Alexei Kitaev and John Preskill proposed encoding a finite-dimensional quantum system in an oscillator. The GKP construction protects against small displacement errors, connecting continuous-variable physical systems with discrete logical quantum information.
Coauthor of the oscillator encoding with Alexei Kitaev and John Preskill.
Source-supported recordarXiv / Physical Review A
Keep in perspective
A code’s protection depends on its noise assumptions and implementation; different architectures do not necessarily use the same checks or achieve the same reliability.
The evidence map
Both views link each contribution to its sources. Choose a contribution on the map or read them all in the list.
Stabilizer codes and error correction
Stabilizer Codes and Quantum Error Correction
Supports: Stabilizer formalism, codes and fault-tolerant computation.
Published 28 May 1997 · Checked 19 Sept 2026Credit & limits: Author of the doctoral thesis developing the stabilizer-code framework and fault-tolerant operations.
Read the full contribution| Contribution | Evidence & what it supports | Credit & limits |
|---|---|---|
| Stabilizer codes and error correction1997 | Primary paperStabilizer Codes and Quantum Error Correction Stabilizer formalism, codes and fault-tolerant computation. Published 28 May 1997 · Checked 19 Sept 2026 | Author of the doctoral thesis developing the stabilizer-code framework and fault-tolerant operations. |
| Encoding a qubit in an oscillator2001 | Primary paperEncoding a qubit in an oscillator Gottesman–Kitaev–Preskill authorship and oscillator encoding. Published 8 Aug 2000 · Checked 19 Sept 2026 | Coauthor of the oscillator encoding with Alexei Kitaev and John Preskill. |
Follow the evidence
4 sourcesPrimary papers, institutional records and attributed announcements. Each source supports the claims linked above.
- Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science, University of MarylandInstitutional record
Daniel Gottesman
Current Brin Family professorship and QuICS co-directorship.
Checked 19 Sept 2026 - arXiv / California Institute of Technology dissertationPrimary paper
Stabilizer Codes and Quantum Error Correction
Stabilizer formalism, codes and fault-tolerant computation.
Published 28 May 1997 · Checked 19 Sept 2026 - arXiv / Physical Review APrimary paper
Encoding a qubit in an oscillator
Gottesman–Kitaev–Preskill authorship and oscillator encoding.
Published 8 Aug 2000 · Checked 19 Sept 2026 - Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science, University of MarylandInstitutional record
Daniel Gottesman
Current Brin Family Endowed professorship in Theoretical Computer Science, QuICS co-directorship, UMIACS appointment and institutional attribution of the stabilizer-code formalism.
Checked 8 Oct 2026