The Physics of Information

该研究计划将开发新的信息理论方法来解决物理学中的基本问题，同时探索信息技术的可能应用。* 基础物理学的两大支柱是量子理论和广义相对论。量子理论产生了深刻的见解，如不确定性原理，并提供了从电子到激光的应用。广义相对论正在产生深刻的见解，例如，进入宇宙的历史，并使全球定位系统的技术。* 然而，一个深刻的挑战来自于这两个理论部分地相互矛盾的事实，这意味着它们并不代表最终的定律。必须有一个更基本的量子引力理论，它将提供更深刻的见解和未知的潜在应用。发展这一理论是一个巨大的挑战，需要发展新的方法。在过去的几年里，社会已经发现越来越多的证据表明，这是新的信息理论的方法，是必要的。 * 作为这项国际努力的一部分，目前的研究计划采用了已经在技术中使用的信息理论方法，并进一步发展它们，使它们成为量子引力的工具。这是一套称为香农采样的方法。这些方法很重要，因为它们建立了信息的连续和离散表示的关键等价性。因此，从卫星到消费电子产品，香农方法通常都是内置的技术。* 进一步发展香农方法用于量子引力的原因是由于量子引力的一个特殊挑战：广义相对论将时空描述为光滑的，而量子理论表明时空最终可能是离散的。新开发的香农采样方法可以被研究界用作量子理论和广义相对论结构之间的桥梁。作为目前研究计划的一部分，香农方法将特别应用于黑洞物理学和宇宙学。* 将开发的大多数技术将被设计为可广泛使用。除了有助于解决基本的物理问题，目前的研究计划，因此，也有可能有助于新技术。该研究计划包括探索量子计算机的量子控制方法，自适应带宽数据压缩以及高分辨率成像技术的应用的具体计划。* 众所周知，加拿大在重力和宇宙学、量子信息和经典信息技术研究领域处于世界领先地位。目前的研究计划有助于加拿大在这些研究领域的地位，该计划也有潜力在信息技术行业的应用。

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.**