Michael Ragone

Michael Ragone is a Morrey Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at University of California, Berkeley. His research lies at the intersection of quantum many-body physics, quantum computation/information, and applied representation theory, with a focus on Lie group symmetries and quantum ground state structures.

• Current teaching: MAT 185 (Complex Analysis), MAT 121A (Math Methods for Physics)
• Previous teaching: UC Davis (MAT 21D Vector Calculus, real analysis, linear algebra)

Research highlights include SO(n) spin chains as symmetry-protected topological phases, dynamical Lie algebras in quantum control theory, and expressibility trade-offs in parameterized quantum circuits. His work at Los Alamos and Pacific Northwest National Laboratories explored quantum machine learning foundations.

Publications span quantum many-body systems (2025), AKLT models (2024), and theoretical frameworks for equivariant quantum neural networks (2024) and barren plateau mitigation (2024). Collaborators include Bruno Nachtergaele, Frederic Sauvage, and Martin Larocca.

Volunteer experience: Mt. Tamalpais College (math tutoring in San Quentin State Prison). Technical background includes engineering senior design projects (Coast Guard signal processing) and computational neuroscience (University of Arizona).