About Quantum Sheikh

Inspired by others in the quantum field who use titles like "Quantum Pontiff" and "Quantum Pundit," I decided the world needed a "Quantum Sheikh." The term "Sheikh" is an Arabic title for a tribal or household leader, and given my upbringing in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan—both steeped in this tradition—it felt like a natural fit.

I adopted the name "Quantum Sheikh" in 2019 while working as an academic scientist in Abu Dhabi and launched a blog on quantum information and computation. Although the project was paused due to time constraints, I’m thrilled to revive it now. My focus will be on exploring quantum technology, particularly applications of quantum computing and quantum games in business and finance.

Quantum computing studies how to process quantum information and gain advantages over conventional computers like faster computations and superior quality solutions. Quantum game theory is a fascinating subfield where researchers explore two key questions:

1. Can quantum computers improve the results of strategic interactions like trading?

2. Can game-theoretic principles inform the development of quantum algorithms and protocols?

In both cases, we are looking for some level of what is called quantum advantage—the edge that quantum systems have over classical ones in specific scenarios. With the arrival of first-generation quantum computers, these ideas can now be tested in real-world applications like finance and trading.

My posts, available by following the Qlog link above, are designed to be beneficial for both quantum enthusiasts and beginners, as well as professionals seeking new perspectives. Technical jargon and mathematical formalism are kept to a minimum.

Quantum games, like quantum algorithms, exploit quantum entanglement to establish strong correlations between strategic player actions. This paper introduces quantum game-theoretic models applied to trading and demonstrates their implementation on an ion-trap quantum computer at UMD Joint Quantum Institute. The results showcase a quantum advantage, previously known only theoretically, realized as higher-paying market Nash equilibria. This advantage could help uncover alpha in trading strategies, defined as excess returns compared to established benchmarks. These findings suggest that quantum computing could significantly influence the development of financial strategies.

This work was presented at the conference Quantum Information Processing 2025 as a poster.

I’ll be sharing the results of this work at the Quantum Computing Applications in Economics and Finance Conference, organized by the Penn Initiative for the Study of Markets, April 11, 2025.

New Research: Quantum Advantage in Trading – A Game-Theoretic Approach