The Physics of Information

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This research program will develop new information-theoretic methods to address fundamental questions in physics, while also exploring possible applications to information technologies. The two pillars of fundamental physics are quantum theory and general relativity. Quantum theory is yielding deep insights such as the uncertainty principle and provides applications from electronics to lasers. General relativity is yielding deep insights, e.g., into the history of the universe, and is enabling the technology of global positioning systems. A profound challenge, however, arises from the fact the two theories in part contradict each other, which means that they do not represent the final laws. There must be a more basic theory of quantum gravity - and it will offer yet deeper insights and as yet unknown potential applications. To develop this theory is a tremendous challenge that requires the development of new methods. Over the past years, the community has found increasing evidence that it is new information-theoretic methods that are needed. As part of this international effort, the present research program takes information theoretic methods which are already used in technology and develops them further so that they become tools for quantum gravity. It is a set of methods called Shannon sampling. These methods are important because they establish the crucial equivalence of continuous and discrete representations of information. Shannon methods are, therefore, routinely built into technology from satellites to consumer electronics. The reason why it is promising to further develop Shannon methods for use in quantum gravity is due to a particular challenge of quantum gravity: general relativity describes spacetime as smooth while quantum theory indicates that spacetime may ultimately be discrete. The newly to be developed Shannon sampling methods can then be used by the research community as tools to bridge between quantum theoretic and general relativistic structures. As part of the present research program, Shannon methods are to be applied, in particular, to black hole physics and cosmology. Most of the techniques that are to be developed will be designed to be very broadly usable. In addition to being useful for addressing fundamental physical questions, the present research program has, therefore, also the potential to contribute to new technologies. The research program includes concrete plans for exploring applications to quantum control methods for quantum computers, to adaptive-bandwidth data compression as well as to high resolution imaging technology. Canada is well known as a world leader in the research areas of gravity and cosmology, quantum information and classical information technologies. The present research program contributes to Canada's standing in these research fields and the program also has potential for applications in the information technology industry.