Speaker
Raymond Laflamme
Description
Around 1980, Charley Bennett (IBM) apparently asked
Richard Feynman if the
uncertainty principles in quantum mechanics would limit
the precision at
which we will be able to compute. Feynman
thought about it and quickly realised that not only there
are no
inherent limitations to the precision at which we can
compute but
quantum mechanics offers an opportunity to simulate
quantum systems
something which is apparently exponentially hard to do.
That was one the first
realisation that quantum information can be much more
than its classical counterpart.
Over the last 30 years, quantum information science has
grown from pure
theoretical science to new surprising applications,
devices and
technologies. Quantum computers, one the most
coveted of these
technologies, promise to fundamentally change how we
process
information. The quest towards a quantum computer has
already brought
deep insights into our quantum world and new ways to
control and
harness the unusual quantum behaviour for
computation. Yet, some of the most
interesting insights have come along the road to this
holy grail in
computing. We’ve discovered spinoffs of these ideas
that have led to new
and improved quantum technologies. During this
presentation, I will
share examples of quantum technologies – technologies
where some are
still in the labs, but some are in the market today. For
example, I will
show how a challenge with the inhomogeneity of
magnetic field
in quantum computing led to a
device used today in oil exploration. I will also share
how a
superconducting qubit, led to a sensor that is much
more precise than its classical counterpart. In each
example,
I will provide an overview of the technology, explain the
science behind
the technology, and how quantum information was used
to solve a
particular problem.
Primary author
Raymond Laflamme
