The Physics of Information

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The long-term core of this research program into the physics of information is to add to the toolbox of mathematical physics novel tools that could help tackle the deepest questions of quantum gravity and cosmology. These are questions such as what is the long sought-after theory that unifies general relativity and quantum theory, and what will it tell us about the beginning and early evolution of the universe? In the shorter term, the plan is to research applications of these same new tools to quantum technologies and engineering. The novel tools are planned to be information-theoretic in nature. The reason for the focus on information theoretic tools is their great versatility - as they can be applied to any processes, no matter how extreme or counterintuitive the physical circumstances are, be it in cosmology or in quantum technologies. Part of the core of the research program is, for example, to create better theoretical tools to track the transfer of quantum information at the onset of fundamental physical interactions. Such tools can then also be applied to making quantum processors less prone to leaking quantum information to the environment, the problem which is the key bottleneck in quantum computing technologies. To this end, research is planned into training deep neural networks to use these new information flow tracking tools in order to continually steer the operations of a quantum processor around those quantum states that are most prone to quantum information leakage. In this way, the research program possesses a hard and highly ambitious long-term core, which is to create novel tools for advancing quantum gravity and cosmology, while also possessing plans for shorter and medium term research into novel applications of these tools in applied physics and engineering. This research program into the physics of information therefore provides suitable projects for students of all levels, from undergraduate summer students to Ph.D. students. The students will benefit from opportunities to contribute at the forefront of research as well as from acquiring highly marketable skills in the form of versatile mathematical techniques and expertise in classical and quantum information, along with experience in machine learning. In the quantum technology industry, there is a significant shortage of trained talent that this research program will help to address. The anticipated benefits of this research program therefore include the training of students for successful academic careers and advancing Canada's standing in fundamental physics, as well as the training of students for industrial careers, especially in the field of quantum technologies where there is shortage of qualified talent, thereby strengthening Canada's competitiveness in an economically increasingly important high tech industry.