Computing the spectrum: Information physics from cryptography to cosmology

计算频谱：从密码学到​​宇宙学的信息物理学

• 批准号: 312819-2013
• 负责人: Hayden, Patrick
• 金额: $ 4.52万
• 依托单位: McGill University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2013-01-01 至 2014-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=526621
• 关键词: Computing; spectrum; Information; physics; cryptography

The semiconductors that power modern computers, the lasers that carry our communications, and the liquid crystal displays that are our portals to cyberspace all depend crucially on quantum-mechanical effects for their existence. As important as quantum mechanics already is to information technology, however, there is a second quantum revolution in information technology that is only just beginning. The laws of quantum mechanics make possible forms of secure communication that are provably impossible in a "classical" world. Likewise, an intrinsically quantum-mechanical computer could efficiently solve problems that are intractable for any computer of more traditional design, the most notorious example being that a quantum computer could crack most of the codes used to secure the internet. As our abilities to engineer and control nanoscale systems reach new levels, it is rapidly becoming possible to harness the power of intrinsically quantum mechanical information. Quantum cryptographic systems are already a commercial reality and small proof-of-principle quantum computers have been demonstrated in the lab, as recognized by the 2012 Nobel Prize in physics. My research focuses on finding new information processing tasks facilitated by quantum mechanics as well as developing techniques for overcoming the formidable obstacles to building reliable, large-scale quantum computers and communications systems. I pursue the applications of these ideas wherever they are to be found, whether in near-term technologies or in implications for the fate of information dropped into black holes.

为现代计算机提供动力的半导体、进行通信的激光器以及作为我们进入网络空间门户的液晶显示器，都在很大程度上依赖于量子力学效应。尽管量子力学对信息技术已经很重要，但信息技术的第二次量子革命才刚刚开始。量子力学的定律使得在“经典”世界中被证明是不可能的安全通信形式成为可能。 同样，本质上量子力学的计算机可以有效地解决任何传统设计的计算机都难以解决的问题，最臭名昭著的例子是量子计算机可以破解用于保护互联网的大部分代码。随着我们设计和控制纳米系统的能力达到新的水平，利用内在量子力学信息的力量正在迅速成为可能。量子密码系统已经成为商业现实，小型原理验证量子计算机已经在实验室中得到验证，这一点得到了2012年诺贝尔物理学奖的认可。我的研究重点是寻找由量子力学促进的新的信息处理任务，以及开发克服构建可靠的大规模量子计算机和通信系统的巨大障碍的技术。我追求这些想法的应用，无论它们在哪里被发现，无论是在短期技术还是在对落入黑洞的信息命运的影响中。