LEAPS-MPS: Quantum Simulation with Classical Optics

量子科学和工程通过为计算、通信、传感等提供更高效、更安全的设备，在改变现代技术方面具有巨大的潜力。然而，量子系统经常面临脆弱性、有限的可控性和高成本等挑战。虽然寻找解决这些问题的最佳量子平台至关重要，但探索可替代的宏观经典物理系统也具有战略意义，这些系统具有鲁棒性，易于控制，并且具有成本效益，可用于模拟量子任务。该leap - mps奖旨在研究微观量子系统和宏观经典光场之间的类比，利用这些类比来模拟各种量子任务。该研究将推动量子模拟和经典相干光学领域的发展。此外，量子与经典光学之间的类比将有助于发展量子物理教学的新方法，利用可视化光学系统来提高高中，本科生和研究生的量子教育效率。该leap - mps奖旨在支持使用经典光束模拟量子任务的研究活动。这项研究基于一种新兴的认识，即经典波系统，如经典光，与量子系统共享许多重要的特性，这些特性对量子任务至关重要。这些特性包括向量空间、向量叠加、相干、纠缠等等。通过开发光结构内信息处理的新方法，本研究旨在提高我们以连贯的方式操纵光的多维度和多方性质的能力。该项目的主要成果将是建立新的物理平台和协议，用于使用经典光模拟和实现类似量子的任务。利用经典光的固有优势，如鲁棒性，易于控制和低成本，这一努力将为使用经典类似物的量子信息科学的实际实现铺平道路。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Quantum science and engineering holds immense potential for transforming modern technology by offering more efficient and secure devices for computing, communication, sensing, and more. However, quantum systems often face challenges such as fragility, limited controllability, and high costs. While the search for optimal quantum platforms to address these issues is crucial, it is also strategically important to explore alternative macroscopic classical physical systems that are robust, easily controllable, and cost-effective for simulating quantum-like tasks. This LEAPS-MPS award aims to investigate analogies between microscopic quantum systems and macroscopic classical light fields, leveraging these analogies to simulate various quantum tasks. This research will advance the field of quantum simulation and classical coherence optics. Furthermore, the analogy between quantum and classical optics will contribute to the development of novel methods for teaching quantum physics, employing visualizable optical systems to enhance the efficiency of quantum education for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students.This LEAPS-MPS award aims to support research activities focused on simulating quantum tasks using classical light beams. This research is grounded in the emerging recognition that classical wave systems, such as classical light, share many important properties with quantum systems that are essential for quantum tasks. These properties include vector spaces, vector superpositions, coherence, entanglement, and more. By developing novel approaches to information processing within light structures, this research seeks to enhance our ability to manipulate the multi-dimensionality and multi-party nature of light in a coherent manner. The primary outcome of this project will be the establishment of new physical platforms and protocols for simulating and realizing quantum-like tasks using classical light. Leveraging the inherent advantages of classical light, such as robustness, ease of control, and low cost, this effort will pave the way for the practical implementation of quantum information science using classical analogs.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.