The power of quantum resources

量子资源的力量

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-03025
• 负责人: Scandolo, CarloMaria
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=759119
• 关键词: power; quantum; resources

The development of quantum information theory has seen a major blossoming both of scientific results and technological advances that are becoming commercially available (random number generators, cryptography, etc.). The key of the success of quantum information lies in the fact that quantum objects are actual resources, for they provide concrete advantage over ordinary (i.e. classical) objects. In other words, the quantum world has a power we can harness. My research program aims at exploring the power and limitations of quantum resources, such as quantum entanglement, in order to devise better protocols and novel quantum technologies that take full advantage of the quantum world. Crucial ingredients of all quantum technologies are quantum channels, which are ways to transmit quantum information in space (e.g. to a satellite) and through time (e.g. time evolution of a physical system). In order to devise powerful quantum technologies, one must use quantum channels in the most effective way, so that quantum resources are not wasted or destroyed in the process. For instance, consider a quantum computer. The most likely large-scale implementation thereof will be in a distributed fashion, with quantum channels connecting various nodes of a network, and employing quantum entanglement as an essential resource to carry out computation. In this setting, it is vital to quantify, e.g., the largest amount of entanglement that can be extracted out of a quantum channel, which can then be used to implement the actual distributed computation. My research will provide a quantitative answer to this and similar issues that are so central for the development of quantum technologies. Besides these practical applications, my research tackles more theoretical problems too. One concerns the development of a theory of thermodynamics for quantum channels that extends the known thermodynamics for quantum states. Here the goal is to formalize an extended version of the second law of thermodynamics, valid for both channels and states. This can provide a new angle on nanotechnologies, and even on important aspects of statistical physics. Another theoretical direction concerns the emergence of the classical limit out of generic physical theories that may even be beyond quantum, such as the theories that have been proposed for quantum gravity. This demands a careful understanding of coherence, or lack thereof, in generalized physical settings. As a long-term goal, this direction will allow us to gain a better perspective on the role of coherence in quantum gravity. The results of my research program will keep Canada strategically at the forefront of the quantum revolution - where it is already a leader - and will help consolidate and advance its position even further. The scientific advances produced by my research will foster a vibrant scientific environment, where HQP will be trained to meet the demands of the new quantum era.

量子信息理论的发展见证了科学成果和技术进步的蓬勃发展，这些成果和技术进步正在商业化（随机数生成器、密码学等）。量子信息成功的关键在于量子物体是实际资源，因为它们比普通（即经典）物体具有具体的优势。换句话说，量子世界拥有我们可以利用的力量。我的研究项目旨在探索量子资源（例如量子纠缠）的力量和局限性，以便设计出更好的协议和新颖的量子技术，充分利用量子世界。所有量子技术的关键要素是量子通道，它是在空间（例如到卫星）和时间（例如物理系统的时间演化）中传输量子信息的方式。为了设计出强大的量子技术，我们必须以最有效的方式使用量子通道，以便在此过程中不浪费或破坏量子资源。例如，考虑一台量子计算机。最有可能的大规模实施将以分布式方式，通过量子通道连接网络的各个节点，并采用量子纠缠作为进行计算的基本资源。在这种情况下，量化至关重要，例如可以从量子通道中提取的最大纠缠量，然后可以将其用于实现实际的分布式计算。我的研究将为这个问题以及对于量子技术发展至关重要的类似问题提供定量答案。除了这些实际应用之外，我的研究还解决了更多的理论问题。其中一个涉及量子通道热力学理论的发展，该理论扩展了已知的量子态热力学。这里的目标是形式化热力学第二定律的扩展版本，对通道和状态都有效。这可以为纳米技术甚至统计物理学的重要方面提供一个新的角度。另一个理论方向涉及通用物理理论中经典极限的出现，这些理论甚至可能超越量子，例如为量子引力提出的理论。这需要仔细理解一般物理环境中的一致性或缺乏一致性。作为一个长期目标，这个方向将使我们能够更好地了解相干性在量子引力中的作用。我的研究项目的结果将使加拿大在战略上保持在量子革命的最前沿——它已经是量子革命的领导者——并将有助于进一步巩固和推进其地位。我的研究产生的科学进步将营造一个充满活力的科学环境，HQP 将在其中接受培训，以满足新量子时代的需求。