Spatially-Encoded Photonic Quantum Information and Quantum Metrology

科学在操纵光子和电子等单个粒子方面变得越来越熟练。我们使用这些粒子的设备在灵敏度、速度、功率等方面都有限制，这是由量子物理的奇怪定律决定的。在这些量子技术中对粒子的仔细控制将使我们能够构建具有更高灵敏度的传感器（量子计量学），可以解决棘手问题的计算机（量子信息），以及第一个可证明安全的通信系统（量子密码学）。然而，量子物理学是出了名的难以理解，并且包含许多尚未解决的概念问题。这既是一个问题也是一个机会。量子信息学和量子计量学都是从量子物理学的基本问题领域的研究途径发展起来的，分别是对量子纠缠和量子测量的研究。事实上，这三个领域之间一直在定期交流见解和工具。这个项目将以我的团队在这三个领域的丰富经验为基础，以便在它们之间转换概念，以揭示新的应用和理解。光子学领域为这三个领域带来了许多新的可能性。光子学将现代技术应用于光，例如用于计算机芯片的微加工、新型激光器和LCD显示器。这些应用主要是基于上个世纪的经典光学，而这个项目将开发新型的光子器件，通过光的量子物理，即“量子光学”发挥作用。它还将使用这种量子光子学来提高基于光的传感器的灵敏度，例如激光陀螺仪，化学和生物光谱传感器以及遥感光学设备。药物开发如此昂贵和容易失败的原因之一是，人类无法预测任何给定的试验药物分子的行为。尽管可能性还很遥远，但量子计算机可以通过模拟分子和固体等量子力学系统，然后预测它们的性质和行为来解决这个问题。该项目旨在通过利用光子能力来开发操纵和利用量子光的新方法，从而为全球努力构建量子计算机做出贡献。加拿大一直是光子通信和量子信息领域的先驱和领导者。这个研究项目利用了加拿大在这两个领域的优势，为国家带来了巨大的利益。在这个工程、计算机科学、数学和物理学交叉领域的研究将产生具有多种应用的新技术。该计划旨在吸引全球人才到加拿大，并为加拿大工业培训高技能工人，掌握所需的工业技能，如光子学设计和即将到来的量子技术革命。

Science is becoming adept at manipulating individual particles such as photons and electrons. The devices that we use these particles in have limits in sensitivity, speed, power, etc. that are set by the strange laws of quantum physics. The careful control of particles in these quantum technologies will allow us to build sensors with dramatically higher sensitivity (Quantum Metrology), computers than can solve intractable problems (Quantum Information), and the first provably secure communication systems (Quantum Cryptography). However, quantum physics is notoriously difficult to understand and contains many unresolved conceptual issues. This is both a problem and an opportunity. The areas of Quantum Information and Quantum Metrology both grew from avenues of enquiry into the area of Fundamental Issues in quantum physics, namely the study of quantum entanglement and measurement, respectively. Indeed, there has been a regular exchange of insights and tools between the three areas. This program will build upon my group's extensive experience in these three areas in order to translate concepts between them with the aim of revealing new applications and understandings. The field of Photonics brings many new possibilities to these three areas. Photonics applies modern technologies to light, such as the micro-fabrication used for computer chips, new types of lasers, and LCD displays. Whereas these applications are mainly based on the classical optics of the last century, this program will develop new kinds of photonic devices that function via the quantum physics of light, `quantum optics'. It will also use such quantum photonics to increase the sensitivity of light-based sensors, e.g. laser gyros, chemical and biological spectral sensors, and remote sensing optical devices. One of the reasons drug development is so incredibly expensive and failure prone is because humans are unable to predict how any given trialed drug-molecule behaves. Though still a distant possibility, a quantum computer would solve this problem by being able to model quantum mechanical systems such as molecules and solids and then predict their properties and behavior. This program is contributing to a global effort to build a quantum computer by leveraging photonic capabilities in order to develop novel ways to manipulate and utilize quantum light. Canada has been a pioneer and leader in both Photonic Telecommunications and Quantum Information. This research program capitalizes on the opportunity to join Canada's strength in these two areas to produce significant benefits for the country. Research at this intersection of engineering, computer science, mathematics, and physics will produce new technologies with diverse applications. The program aims to draw global talent to Canada and also to train highly skilled workers for Canadian Industry in in-demand industrial skills such as photonics design and for the coming revolution of quantum technologies.