Quantum Structured Waves - QSW

研究性质：*Karimi博士的结构量子光学(SQO)小组专注于结构化量子波的产生、检测和操作，例如光和电子束，以及它们在现代科学中的应用。这涉及到在传播时或在所需区域中操纵和设计波的矢量性质、强度和相位分布。处于基础量子物理和应用科学的交叉点上，我们期待着从这样一个新的、尚未充分探索的物理学研究分支中出现重要的进展。SQO团队已经被社会公认为世界级的研究团队，他们的显著成就证明了这一点，这些成就经常被新闻媒体重点报道。在接下来的五年里，我们的目标是：1)设计和制造用于定制量子/经典光态的薄或超薄液晶和/或等离子光学器件，2)设计利用结构光子执行量子信息协议/量子计算的新型器件，3)设计利用结构光子进行超安全量子通信(量子密钥分配)的新平台，以及4)利用结构量子波包括电子/离子束开发量子物理的基础测试。*意义、预期结果和对加拿大人的好处：*“结构波”是物理学中一个新的、迅速兴起的研究领域，它还没有被充分开发，加拿大也没有在任何可察觉的程度上进行研究。因此，卡里米博士的研究活动使渥太华大学(和加拿大)有机会跻身该领域的领导者之列。尽管这一领域很新颖，但光束整形和奇异的光束结构已经在光子学的大量应用中得到了成功的应用。该项目将促进加拿大各地杰出科学家之间的合作，这可能会导致进一步的想法和项目的发展。拟议的光学设备和安全通信方案也可以用于工业应用，促进向加拿大工业转让技术和知识。此外，卡里米博士在量子光学和波角动量研究方面已经建立了声誉，这将使在他指导下培训的学生和博士后研究员受益匪浅。他们将精通理论物理(经典和量子光学)，为物理(量子)系统建模，并用光子开发逻辑量子门。学生将接受在液晶和量子光学实验室工作的培训。渥太华大学提供的顶级设施为学生提供了接受技术、研究和专业技能培训的机会，这些技能对学术界和工业界的职业生涯非常重要。**

Nature of the research:***The Structural Quantum Optics (SQO) group of Dr. Karimi focuses on the generation, detection and manipulation of the structured quantum waves, e.g. light and electron beams, and their applications in modern science. This involves manipulating and engineering waves' vectorial nature, intensity and phase distributions upon propagation, or in desired regions. Lying at the intersection of fundamental quantum physics and applied science, we expect important advances to emerge from such a novel, and not yet fully explored, research branch of physics. The SQO team is already well-recognized by the community as a world-class research group, as evidenced by their significant achievements, which are frequently highlighted by news outlets. During the next five years, we aim to: 1) design and fabricate of thin or ultra-thin liquid-crystal and/or plasmonic optical devices for tailoring the quantum/classical state of light, 2) design novel devices to perform quantum information protocols/quantum computations with structured photons, 3) design a novel platform for ultra-secure quantum communication (quantum key distribution) with structured photons, and 4) exploit fundamental tests of quantum physics with structured quantum waves including electron/ion beams.***Significance, expected outcomes, and benefits to Canadians:***“Structured waves” is a new and rapidly emerging field of research in physics, which has not yet been fully exploited, and has also not been studied in Canada to any appreciable extent. Thus, Dr. Karimi's research activities give the University of Ottawa (and Canada) the opportunity to place itself among the leaders in this field. Despite the novelty of the field, beam shaping and exotic beam structures have already been put to successful use in a large number of applications in photonics. This project will foster collaborations among distinguished scientists throughout Canada, which may lead to the development of further ideas and projects. The proposed optical devices and secure communication schemes may also be put to use in industrial applications, facilitating transfer of technology and knowledge to Canadian industry. Moreover, Dr. Karimi has already established a reputation in quantum optics and the study of waves' angular momenta, which will greatly benefit the students and postdoctoral fellows training under his supervision. They will become proficient in theoretical physics (both classical and quantum optics), modelling physical (quantum) systems, and developing logical quantum gates with photons. Students will be trained to work at liquid crystal and quantum optics laboratories. The top-level facilities available at uOttawa provide students with the opportunity to be trained in technical, research and professional skills important for careers in academia and industry.**