Deep Learning in Classical and Quantum Physics

TL;DR

Deep learning is revolutionizing quantum physics research by enabling efficient data analysis and discovery, but requires careful application to avoid pitfalls like overfitting and limited interpretability.

Contribution

This paper provides a comprehensive graduate-level introduction to deep learning applications in quantum physics, combining theory and practical examples.

Findings

DL aids in exploring quantum parameter spaces

DL accelerates discovery of quantum materials

Awareness of DL limitations ensures scientific rigor

Abstract

Scientific progress is tightly coupled to the emergence of new research tools. Today, machine learning (ML)-especially deep learning (DL)-has become a transformative instrument for quantum science and technology. Owing to the intrinsic complexity of quantum systems, DL enables efficient exploration of large parameter spaces, extraction of patterns from experimental data, and data-driven guidance for research directions. These capabilities already support tasks such as refining quantum control protocols and accelerating the discovery of materials with targeted quantum properties, making ML/DL literacy an essential skill for the next generation of quantum scientists. At the same time, DL's power brings risks: models can overfit noisy data, obscure causal structure, and yield results with limited physical interpretability. Recognizing these limitations and deploying mitigation strategies is crucial for scientific rigor. These lecture notes provide a comprehensive, graduate-level introduction to DL for quantum applications, combining conceptual exposition with hands-on examples. Organized as a progressive sequence, they aim to equip readers to decide when and how to apply DL effectively, to understand its practical constraints, and to adapt AI methods responsibly to problems across quantum physics, chemistry, and engineering.