GENERAL INFORMATION

The workshop takes place from 17 to 21 August 2026 at the Institute for Theoretical Physics (THP) in Cologne and is organized by Jonas Haferkamp (Saarland University), Markus Heinrich (U Cologne), Jonas Helsen (QuSoft/CWI), and Xhek Turkeshi (U Cologne).

This workshop aims at bringing together a small group of people with different backgrounds and a common interest in random circuits. The workshop will feature a small number of talks and a poster session, but will otherwise leave plenty of time for discussions and spontaneous sessions. We want to create a vivid atmosphere which will ideally spark many new ideas and collaborations. The main topics are:

• approximate unitary designs, pseudo-randomness, and other properties of random quantum circuits
• connections to many-body physics
• noise in random circuits
• applications: random circuit sampling, algorithms, quantum characterization and learning, classical simulation

Participation in the workshop is by invitation only.

VENUE AND ACCOMMODATION

The workshop takes place at the Institute for Theoretical Physics (THP), located south of Cologne's inner city. The institute is hosted in a new and separate building (see image), where several seminar and discussion rooms, as well as the rooftop terrace, are available for talks, discussions, and spontaneous sessions.

THP can be readily reached by public transport, following the instructions of, e.g., Google Maps (address: Zülpicher Straße 77a). For detailed directions, see below or consult the THP website.

We have negotiated an accommodation deal with the hotel Motel One Köln-Altstadt which will allow participants to book single rooms (incl. breakfast) at a competitive rate. More details and a booking code will be provided upon registration.

Hotel rooms can alternatively be booked by regular means. Recommendations include Flandrischer Hof, Motel One Köln-Neumarkt, Steigenberger Hotel Köln, and Best Western Plus Hotel Köln City.

GETTING AROUND

• ... Plane: Cologne has a small international airport with limited connections within Europe. Frankfurt airport is the largest airport in Germany and less than 1 hour away by direct high-speed train connection (ICE). Düsseldorf airport is approximately 45 min away by regional train.
• ... Train: Cologne offers many direct high-speed train connections (ICE, Eurostar) to major cities in Europe, such as Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Basel, Zürich, and Vienna (also via Nightjet).
• ... Car: Cologne is located next to the German highways A1, A3, and A4. Parking licence for the university parking lot next to THP can be requested from the organizers (limited).

• ... the venue: THP is located next to the station "Universität" (line 9) and a 5 min walk away from "Eifelwall" (line 18). From the latter station, Cologne main station can be reached directly in 12-15 min.
• ... the hotel: Motel One Köln-Altstadt is located near the subway station "Poststraße" (line 3,4,16,18). There's a direct connection via line 16 and 18 to Cologne main station (10 min) and to the venue via line 18 (two stops, exit at Eifelwall, see above).

Public transport in Cologne works reasonably well and can be navigated using Google Maps or Deutsche Bahn's journey planner. There are several tram lines and a dense network of bus lines throughout the city. Most tram lines operate underground in the inner city and above ground elsewhere. Underground stations are marked with an "U" on maps and signs. Tickets can be purchased at vending machines in every tram and bus, or via the Deutsche Bahn or KVB app. Single tickets are 3.80 EUR (zone 1b). Within the inner city, the cheaper "Kurzstrecke" ticket for 2.80 EUR is often enough (zone K, up to 4 stops). Alternatively, a week/7-day ticket is available (zone 1b, 37.60 EUR).

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