Characterization of quantum information devices and equilibration of complex quantum dynamics

量子信息科学基于这样一个发现，即小尺度系统中的量子力学效应可以给信息技术带来革命性的变化，特别是导致量子计算和量子通信设备的出现，这些设备可以远远超过传统的同类设备。用于量子信息的物理设备已经在各种领域实现，如激光冷却原子、钻石中的电磁控制电子-核系统以及超导量子电路。艾默生博士的研究开发了评估和改进量子信息设备性能的方法，长期目标是使量子信息处理器成为商业上可行的现实。这项拟议的研究将开发有效的协议来表征目前正在开发的量子设备的性能。这些协议将包括一些工具，使物理学家和工程师能够通过识别和消除破坏设备量子特性的有害影响，来构建强大的、可扩展的量子通信和量子计算设备。这项研究将为基于量子的信息技术的商业发展打开大门，并将培养具有利用这些研究红利的专业知识的研究生。爱默生博士的研究还致力于提高我们对实际量子设备超越经典设备所需的特定量子特征的理解。

Quantum information science is based on the discovery that quantum mechanical effects in small scale systems can revolutionize information technology, leading, in particular, to quantum computation and quantum communication devices which can vastly outperform their conventional counterparts. Physical devices for quantum information have been realized in areas as diverse as laser-cooled atoms, electro-magnetically controlled electron-nuclear systems in diamond, and superconducting quantum circuits. Dr. Emerson's research develops methods for assessing and improving the performance of quantum information devices, with the long-term goal of making commercially viable quantum information processors a reality. The proposed research will develop efficient protocols for characterizing the performance of quantum devices currently in development. These protocols will consist of tools that enable physicists and engineers to build robust, scalable quantum communication and quantum computing devices by identifying and eliminating unwanted effects that spoil the quantum features of the devices. This research will open the door for the commercial development of quantum-based information technology and will train graduate students with the expertise to exploit these research dividends. Dr. Emerson's research is also concerned with improving our understanding of the specific quantum features that practical quantum devices need to outperform their classical counterparts.