I am a theoretical physicist particularly interested in quantum information: the ways in which subatomic-scale quantities can encode everyday-scale physical relations and vice versa. Captivating science fiction and popular science books first drew me to physics, leading me to study at Imperial College London. As an undergraduate, I encountered the strange, counterintuitive, and yet remarkably accurate descriptions of reality provided by quantum mechanics and general relativity. That curiosity carried me to Penn State for a Ph.D., where my dissertation explored how relativistic properties of time could be incorporated into quantum mechanics. I have continued to ponder foundational questions in quantum and gravitational physics ever since.
I believe the physics perspective on the world is a valuable tool no matter one’s path in life, and I enjoy sharing it with my students. In my courses, I emphasize developing a physics way of thinking—reasoning, abstraction, model-building, and problem-solving—more than memorizing specific facts. Because this way of thinking grows through practice, my classes are interactive and give students many opportunities to engage.
Courses Taught
- Analytical physics
- Modern physics
- Energy and the environment
Areas of Expertise
- Theoretical quantum physics
- Gravitation and general relativity
- Mathematical physics
Research Interests
- Quantum reference frames: how to construct them, how to transform between them, and what they tell us about our everyday-scale notions of space and time.
- Quantum computing: looking for interesting ways to test quantum reference frame ideas using existing quantum computers.
- Physics pedagogy: developing tools to improve the way in which we teach undergraduate quantum mechanics using ideas from quantum information.
Education
- M. Sci, Imperial College London, 2005
- Ph. D, The Pennsylvania State University, 2011
Publications & Articles
- J. De Vuyst, P. A. Höhn, A. Tsobanjan. On the relation between perspective-neutral, algebraic, and effective quantum reference frames. arXiv preprint, arXiv:2507.14131(2025). (Submitted for peer review.)
- M. Bojowald and A. Tsobanjan. Algebraic approach to the frozen formalism problem of time. Physical Review D, 107 (2023) 0240035.
- M. Bojowald and A. Tsobanjan. Algebraic properties of quantum reference frames: Does time fluctuate? Quantum Reports, 5 (2022) 22-37.
- M. Bojowald and A. Tsobanjan. Quantization of dynamical symplectic reduction. Communications in Mathematical Physics, 382 (2021) 547-583.
- A. Tsobanjan. Semiclassical states on Lie algebras. Journal of Mathematical Physics, 56 (2015) 033501.
- M. Bojowald and A. Tsobanjan. Effective Casimir conditions and group coherent states. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 31 (2014) 115006.
- P. A. Höhn, E. Kubalova, A. Tsobanjan. Effective relational dynamics of a nonintegrable cosmological model. Physical Review D, 86 (2012) 065014.
- M. Bojowald, P. A. Höhn, A. Tsobanjan. Effective approach to the problem of time: general features and examples. Physical Review D, 83 (2011) 125023.
- M. Bojowald, P. A. Höhn, A. Tsobanjan. An effective approach to the problem of time. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 28 (2011) 035006.
- M. Bojowald and A. Tsobanjan. Effective constraints and physical coherent states in quantum cosmology: a numerical comparison. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 27 (2010) 145004.
- M. Bojowald and A. Tsobanjan. Effective constraints for relativistic quantum systems. Physical Review D, 80 (2009) 125008.
- A. Tsobanjan. Semiclassical analysis of constrained quantum systems. AIP Conference Proceedings, 1196, (2009) 291–298.
- M. Bojowald, B. Sandhöfer, A. Skirzewski, and A. Tsobanjan. “Effective constraints for quantum systems”. Reviews in Mathematical Physics, 21 (2009) 111–154.