Hamilton Colloquium Series

Time-reversal symmetry is one of fundamental symmetries that can present in many quantum mechanical systems. It plays an important role in many-body quantum systems, as demonstrated, for example, in the physics of topological insulators. In this talk, I will discuss topology and quantum entanglement protected and detected by time-reversal symmetry. Of particular importance for us is the so-called *partial transpose* -- a quantum information theoretical operation closely related to time-reversal. I will discuss how it can be used to detect topological properties of many-body ground state of topological insulators and superconductors without relying on single particle band structures, and, also, how it can be used to quantify quantum entanglement of mixed quantum states.