Institute for Quantum Computing

34 Pages·2017·5.8 MB·English

“
W HAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN WATERLOO IS TRULY
SPECIAL, FROM THEORY TO EXPERIMENT AND
BEYOND
”
.
PROFESSOR STEPHEN HAWKING
THANK YOU
THE INSTITUTE FOR QUANTUM COMPUTING (IQC) THANKS MIKE AND OPHELIA
LAZARIDIS, THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
FOR THEIR VISIONARY SUPPORT.
THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR GENEROUS AND CONTINUED SUPPORT OF IQC:
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation | American Physical Society Outreach | Army Research Office | Austrian Academy of Sciences | Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) | Canada
Foundation for Innovation (CFI) | Canada Research Chairs (CRC) | Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) | Canadian Space Agency | Canadian Queen Elizabeth II
Diamond Jubilee Scholarship | COM DEV | Communications Security Establishment | Connect Canada | C2C Link Corporation | Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) |
Doug Fregin | Department of Canadian Heritage | European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) | Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev) |
Foundational Questions Institute (FQXi) | Government of Canada | Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) | Korean Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) |
Lockheed Martin | Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis | Mitacs | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) | Office of Naval Research | Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) |
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics | Province of Ontario | Public Services and Procurement Canada | Quantum Valley Investments | Sandia National Laboratories | Technion
Cooperation Program | The Gerald Schwartz & Heather Reisman Foundation
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO, IQC’S HOME, FOR
SUPPORTING AND CELEBRATING RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE.
Contents
08
THE DRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION
Ultra-powerful computers, unbreakable cryptography, quantum devices,
new materials and nanotechnologies of unprecedented efficiencies
are some of the discoveries being pioneered at IQC.
14
A MAGNET FOR THE WORLD’S BEST
Attracting the leading minds in quantum information science and
technology research to build a hub of quantum expertise.
24
WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH
From theory to experiment, the breadth and quality of IQC’s research
infrastructure allows quantum information science and technology
advancement at the highest international level.
32
THE PATH TO QUANTUM VALLEY: 15 YEARS OF INNOVATION AND DISCOVERY
Theoretical concepts and transformational technologies are moving from
the lab to the marketplace, poised to make real societal impacts.
38
LEADING THE NEXT QUANTUM REVOLUTION
Graduate students are an integral part of our scientific community.
48
IQC TO THE WORLD
Great research must be shared with the people who support it,
who are fascinated by it, and who ultimately will benefit from it.
56
THE YEAR IN REVIEW: LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD
Together, we are leading the next quantum revolution.
INSTITUTE FOR
QUANTUM COMPUTING
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
Published by IQC
Phone: [phone]
Communications and Fax: [phone]
Strategic Initiatives Email: [email protected]
Our vision
HARNESSING QUANTUM
MECHANICS WILL LEAD
TO TRANSFORMATIONAL
TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL
BENEFIT SOCIETY AND
BECOME A NEW ENGINE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
IN THE 21st CENTURY.
Core
Our mission Research
Areas
TO DEVELOP AND
ADVANCE QUANTUM
INFORMATION SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY AT THE
QUANTUM
HIGHEST INTERNATIONAL COMPUTING
LEVEL THROUGH THE Using atoms, molecules
COLLABORATION and particles of light
A DRIVE
to create new bits of
OF COMPUTER
computer information
SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS,
— qubits, which can
FOR MATHEMATICIANS AND be 0 and 1 at the same
PHYSICAL SCIENTISTS. time — for computing.
Excellence
QUANTUM
COMMUNICATION
Developing ultra-
secure communication
INNOVATION
channels, low-noise
&
transmission protocols
and satellite-based
global networks by
harnessing the power
of the quantum world.
Our strategic objectives:
To establish Waterloo as a QUANTUM
world-class centre for research SENSING
in quantum technologies and Using the laws of
quantum mechanics
their applications.
to develop new
sensors with
exponential precision,
To become a magnet for highly
sensitivity, selectivity
qualified personnel in the field
and efficiencies.
of quantum information.
T o be a prime source of insight,
QUANTUM
analysis and commentary on
MATERIALS
quantum information.
Engineering materials
that exhibit quantum
properties for robust
quantum information
processors and
other devices.
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MAKING
RESEARCH
excellence
IQC ADVANCES THE MOST INNOVATIVE AN IMPACT
RESEARCH IN QUANTUM INFORMATION
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
298 1,506
QUANTUM
ecosystem
researchers including publications
7 research chairs since 2002
THE WATERLOO REGION PROVIDES AN
200+
IDEAL ENVIRONMENT FOR ACADEMIC AND
QUANTUM
INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS. FUNDAMENTAL
active awards and grants, including 41 NSERC-funded
QUANTUM DISCOVERIES ARE ALREADY
INFORMATION
grants and 6 CFI funded grants
MOVING FROM THE LAB TO THE MARKET.
SCIENCE
Scientific growth and
Intellectual 329 60+ 7
powerhouse training in 2017
hub of
activity
research collaborations spanning
HOSTED 367 196 patents & licenses spinoff
34 countries and 180+ institutions in 2017
by IQC researchers companies
4
TAKING SCIENCE OUT OF THE LAB INSPIRES THE
132 30,357 NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTIFIC LEADERS. students educators
250+
conferences engaged in given the tools
Public education and
lectures and to integrate researchers within 1 km of
publications cumulative citations engagement 2017 highlights 4 hands-on quantum into Waterloo working to advance the science, technology
in 2017
learning the classroom and commercial impact of quantum technologies
161,193 workshops
42 Alumni 68% 35+
P O T E N T I A L I M P A C T A R E A S :
E N V I R O N M E N T , P R I VA C Y, M E D I C I N E , guests through QUANTUM: The Exhibition
T R A N S P O R T A T I O N , T E C H N O L O G Y, and QUANTUM: The Pop-up Exhibition at seminars in academia industry
D I G I T A L C O M M U N I C A T I O N 13 locations in 14 months partnerships
21%
24
4,826
in industry
colloquia
participants in outreach programs
SPONSORED
promoting quantum information science
15
and technology in 2017
1,301,458 workshops and
conferences
around the
minutes of quantum talks watched on world
YouTube in 200 countries
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AFTER A CENTURY STUCK IN TEXTBOOKS, I also want to note the important STRENGTHENING
IQC effort led by Professor Thomas
Jennewein in partnership with the
MIND BENDING QUANTUM A GLOBAL
Canadian Space Agency that is
developing technology to enable the
EFFECTS ARE ABOUT TO POWER transfer of QKD encrypted data over QUANTUM
long distances via satellites and thereby
helping to solve a material limitation with
MAINSTREAM INNOVATION. INDUSTRY
QKD efforts around the world.
No discussion on IQC would be
THE ECONOMIST (MARCH, 2017)
complete without an update on its
general–purpose quantum computer
efforts. Researchers at IQC are focused
Message from the
on the engineering of how to connect
Message from the Chair of the Board
a large number of qubits like many Chair of the Executive
other groups around the world. That
Committee
Momentum toward the development of a new large scale global said, what really sets IQC apart from
industry based on transformative quantum technologies continues other work around the world is IQC’s
to grow and researchers at IQC continue to play a leadership role extensive efforts to develop a quantum The quest for the first
system that has less inherent noise. IQC
in advancing our fundamental knowledge of quantum information quantum computer is a
researchers know that you can’t build
science and in developing new quantum technologies. a useful quantum computer without daunting aspiration.
tackling this fundamentally difficult Yet it’s an endeavour that
IQC recruits the very best researchers to Waterloo with a particular focus on
issue and believe that their efforts to I have no doubt will be
the strongest younger talent. I want to welcome Christine Muschik and William
develop solutions in this regard upfront accomplished at IQC.
Slofstra – new recruits to IQC in the past year. With 29 research faculty, IQC
will have critical long–term benefits
has been noted as the largest centre of its kind in the world.
in their effort to develop a general– As I look toward to the future,
purpose quantum computer. I’m reminded of the incredible
I also want to recognize the important advances to our knowledge of
growth and success that has
quantum information by IQC researchers over the past year. Highlights
In the past year, IQC Founding Director already taken place here. It was
include the following:
Raymond Laflamme stepped down from passion, a bold vision, and the
• Collaboration by KEVIN RESCH’s group with Perimeter Institute researchers this role after 15 years. His leadership tremendous support of Mike
led by ROBERT SPEKKENS to explore a new approach for learning about and his many contributions as Founding Lazaridis that set the stage for
nature including testing quantum theory; Director helped establish IQC as one IQC to emerge as a world leader
of a handful of quantum centres in in quantum information.
• Work by RAYMOND LAFLAMME, JONATHAN BAUGH and BEI ZENG the world. I want to personally thank
toward improved quantum control by bootstrapping a 12 qubit Raymond for his leadership, his hard Combined with Raymond
quantum processor; work and his invaluable contribution. Laflamme’s leadership, IQC has
become known as one of the most
• Physics World recognized the work from THOMAS JENNEWEIN and I am pleased that Raymond will continue advanced research facilities in the
KEVIN RESCH’s groups reporting the observation of three–photon to play a critical role at IQC as the holder world — an epicentre of the next
interference as a 2017 physics breakthrough; of the Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis John information revolution. As IQC
von Neumann Chair. Raymond is a celebrates its 15th anniversary,
• THOMAS JENNEWEIN’s group also reported a successful airborne QKD test, world leading expert in quantum error we also say goodbye to Raymond,
a key step towards satellite deployment; correction and his work in this regard will marking another pivotal point in
be a critical part of IQC’s effort toward time in IQC’s history.
• MICHAEL REIMER reported in Nature on a new bright source of entangled a quantum computer with less inherent
photons based on nanowires; and noise. I am thrilled that Raymond has At IQC, the biggest ideas are
chosen to continue to play such an about what happens on the
• DMITRY PUSHIN and DAVID CORY’s group demonstrated new control important role at IQC and am very smallest of scales. As the University
methods to prepare orbital angular momentum states of both pleased to have helped the University of of Waterloo pursues the goal
neutrons and photons. Waterloo to make this happen. of becoming one of the most
innovative universities in the world,
I am also excited by IQC’s critical contribution to the growing number of
IQC builds on top of the entrepreneurial we also welcome a new Vice-
new quantum technology start–ups in the Quantum Valley. For example,
culture that has led to the global President, University Research,
a quantum ESR technology start–up founded by an IQC researcher has
recognition and success of the University Charmaine Dean. Together, as
developed technology that is literally 100,000 times more powerful and more
of Waterloo. This unprecedented we work towards achieving this
sensitive than existing classical technologies. A quantum-safe encryption
multidisciplinary 15 year university-wide substantial goal, there is no
start–up in the Quantum Valley involving IQC researchers has developed a
effort to harness the power of quantum question that quantum research
“quantum-safe” technology platform that will enable customers to protect
information science and quantum and will play a significant role by
their sensitive records from quantum computer attack with a software
nano materials technology will provide strengthening a global quantum
update. This start–up is also enabling Canada to play a leading role in the
the University of Waterloo a unique industry with deep societal impact.
development of new global standards for quantum safe technologies.
and globally competitive advantage
for decades to come.
In last year’s report remarks, I noted the award to IQC of $76 million as part of George Dixon
the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. Matching funds from the University CHAIR,
of Waterloo and industry partners including Quantum Valley Investments has Mike Lazaridis, O.C., O.Ont., FRS, FRSC IQC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
resulted in IQC’s $140 million Transformative Quantum Technologies (TQT) CHAIR, Vice-President Academic & Provost,
effort led by Professor David Cory. TQT will help IQC to continue to play a IQC BOARD OF DIRECTORS University of Waterloo
global leadership role in the development of a general–purpose quantum
computer, quantum sensor technology, new quantum materials and
quantum encryption technology.
12 A drive for excellence and innovation Annual Report 2017 | uwaterloo.ca/iqc 13
ATTRACTING WORLD-CLASS
RESEARCHERS
K. Rajibul Islam
A
K. RAJIBUL ISLAM joined IQC and the Department of Physics and
Astronomy at the University of Waterloo from the MIT-Harvard
Center for Ultracold Atoms (CUA). As a postdoctoral researcher
at CUA, Islam studied entanglement in ultra-cold neutral bosonic
atoms in optical potentials. He attended Quantum Innovators in
2015, and now leads the Laboratory for Quantum Information
with Trapped Ions (QITI) at IQC. His research interests include
quantum computation, experimental quantum many-body
physics and the use of holography and high-resolution
Magnet microscopy to manipulate many-body systems.
FOR
THE
WORLD'S
Crystal Senko
While completing her postdoctoral research at the
b e s t MIT-Harvard CUA, CRYSTAL SENKO focused on the
development of a photonic crystal waveguide for
information transfer between atoms. During her fellowship
in 2015, she attended Quantum Innovators and is now
a member of IQC and the Department of Physics and
Astronomy at the University of Waterloo. Senko explores
how single atoms encoded with multiple levels of
information, called qudits, can improve the efficiency of
encoding information in quantum systems. Her work with
trapped ions looks at the possibilities of building quantum
systems, including spin chains with complicated behaviour
that has yet to be demonstrated in a lab.
ATTRACTING THE LEADING
MINDS IN QUANTUM
INFORMATION SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY
RESEARCH TO BUILD A HUB
OF QUANTUM EXPERTISE.
Jon Yard
From the Station Q team at Microsoft Research, JON YARD
joined IQC as an Associate Professor in the Department of
Combinatorics and Optimization in the Faculty of Mathematics
and as an Associate Faculty member with the Perimeter
Institute for Theoretical Physics (PI). Yard tackles complex
mathematical problems in the areas of quantum information,
quantum computing, algebraic number theory, quantum field
theory and computational complexity theory. His research aims
to understand the capabilities and limitations of devices for
computing and distributing information.
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FACULTY
2002 2004 2005 2006
Raymond Laflamme Hamed Majedi Michele Mosca Ashwin Nayak Andris Ambainis Richard Cleve Gregor Weihs Joseph Emerson Debbie Leung Norbert Lütkenhaus
Physics and 2001-2014, Combinatorics Combinatorics 2004-2009, Cheriton School of 2005-2010, Applied Combinatorics Physics and
Astronomy now at the and Optimization and Optimization now at the University Computer Science now at the Mathematics and Optimization Astronomy
University of Waterloo of Latvia University of Innsbruck
2007 2008 2009 2010
Frank K. John Watrous Kevin Resch Andrew Childs Jonathan Baugh Ben Reichardt Thomas Adrian Lupaşcu David Cory Dmitry Pushin
Wilhelm-Mauch Cheriton School of Physics and 2007-2016, Chemistry 2008-2011, Jennewein Physics and Chemistry Physics and Astronomy
2006-2013, Computer Science Astronomy now at the now at the Physics and Astronomy Research Assistant
now at the Universität University of Maryland University of Astronomy Professor 2010-2017,
des Saarlandes Southern California now Assistant Professor,
Physics and Astronomy
2011 2012 2014 2015
Robert Koenig Guo-Xing Miao Matteo Mariantoni Christopher Wilson Michal Bajcsy Raffi Budakian Kyung Soo Choi Michael Reimer Vern Paulsen
2010-2015, Electrical and Physics and Electrical and Electrical and Physics and Physics and Electrical and Pure Mathematics
now at Technische Computer Engineering Astronomy Computer Engineering Computer Engineering Astronomy Astronomy Computer Engineering
Universität München
2016 2017 Nanoscale Magnetic Quantum Materials and Quantum Sensing
Resonance Imaging Lab Devices Lab in Physics
Raffi Budakian Wei Tsen Dmitry Pushin
Quantum Error Control Quantum Optics and Quantum
and Error Correction Quantum Information Lab Software Group
Raymond Laflamme Kevin Resch Michele Mosca
William Slofstra Wei Tsen Na Young Kim Jon Yard K. Rajibul Islam Crystal Senko Christine Muschik
Pure Mathematics Chemistry Electrical and Combinatorics and Physics and Physics and Physics and Optical Quantum Quantum Optics Theory Superconducting
Research Assistant Computer Engineering Optimization Astronomy Astronomy Astronomy Communication Christine Muschik Quantum
Professor 2015-2017,
now Assistant Professor, Theory Group Devices Group
Pure Mathematics Norbert Lütkenhaus Quantum Photonic Adrian Lupaşcu
IQC Research Groups Devices Lab
Quantum Innovation Michael Reimer Trapped Ion
Research at IQC is fundamentally Our researchers are appointed to both IQC and one of seven departments
Coherent Laboratory of Ultracold (QuIN) Lab Quantum Control
interdisciplinary, spanning theory and across three faculties at the University of Waterloo: Quantum Photonics Lab
Spintronics Group Quantum Matter and Light Na Young Kim Crystal Senko
experiment, to pursue every avenue Thomas Jennewein
Jonathan Baugh Kyung Soo Choi
of quantum information science. FACULTY OF FACULTY OF FACULTY OF Quantum Information
Quantum Processors Lab
IQC fosters collaboration across MATHEMATICS SCIENCE ENGINEERING Engineered Quantum Laboratory for Quantum and Computation David Cory
Systems Lab Information with Theory Group
disciplines and across borders. Applied Electrical and
Chemistry Christopher Wilson Trapped Ions Richard Cleve Quantum-safe
Mathematics Computer
K. Rajibul Islam Joseph Emerson Cryptography Group
Combinatorics Physics and Engineering Functional Quantum Raymond Laflamme Michele Mosca
and Optimization Astronomy Materials Mathematics of Debbie Leung
Guo-Xing Miao Quantum Information Michele Mosca
Computer William Slofstra Ashwin Nayak
Science Laboratory for Digital
Vern Paulsen
Quantum Matter Nano-Photonics and
John Watrous
Pure Matteo Mariantoni Quantum Optics Lab
Jon Yard
Mathematics Michal Bajcsy
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Agreements & Exchanges
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE
IQC has signed nine official agreements to facilitate The University of Waterloo supports exchange opportunities
collaborative research projects, joint research and the for IQC students, postdoctoral fellows and researchers that
pursuit of common scientific interests: promote the advancement of education and research in
quantum information processing through a student exchange
QUEBEC agreement with the following institutions:
• Institut national de la recherche scientifique
AUSTRIA
• I nstitut Transdisciplinaire d’Information Quantique
• Universität Innsbruck
CHINA
FRANCE
• Tsinghua University
• U niversity of Science and Technology of China • École normale supérieure de Lyon
• U niversité Paris Diderot
INDIA
GERMANY
• Raman Research Institute
• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Powered
ISRAEL
LATVIA
• Technion — Israel Institute of Technology
• University of Latvia
KOREA
THE NETHERLANDS
• Korea Institute of Science and Technology
• Delft University of Technology
THE NETHERLANDS
BY SINGAPORE
• Delft University of Technology
• National University of Singapore
SINGAPORE
• Centre for Quantum Technologies
people
I N 2 0 1 7 , I Q C R E S E A R C H E R S :
PARTICIPATED IN
329 research collaborations 70%+
spanning 34 countries and 180+ institutions.
WELCOMED
159 scientific visitors from 129 leading of co-authored papers are with
A COLLABORATIVE COLLABORATION institutions to exchange ideas and research in quantum information. international collaborators
IS A CATALYST FOR
APPROACH WITH DISCOVERY. IQC
RESEARCHERS WORK
GLOBAL REACH CLOSELY WITH PEERS
FROM AROUND
Computing Theoretical researcher As an IQC affiliate and solve the grand problems
THE GLOBE. IQC’S
quantum ROGER MELKO studies the Associate Professor in the of physics — especially if
INTERNATIONAL University of Waterloo’s implemented on a quantum
big questions of quantum
NETWORK CONTINUES condensed matter Department of Physics and computer. In August 2016,
condensed-matter physics
Astronomy, Melko supervises Melko organized a conference
TO EXPAND, MAKING AFFILIATE PROFILE using computational postdoctoral fellow HILARY at the Perimeter Institute
CONNECTIONS AND methods such as Monte CARTERET and collaborates for Theoretical Physics
PARTNERSHIPS THAT Carlo simulations. He won with other IQC researchers, that aimed to explore the
including postdoctoral fellow potential of machine learning
LAY THE GROUNDWORK the Canadian Association
CHRIS HERDMAN and fellow in quantum research.
FOR EXCITING FUTURE of Physicists (CAP)
affiliate PIERRE-NICHOLAS ROY.
DEVELOPMENTS. Herzberg Medal in 2016 “For now, machine minds can
for his outstanding early- After an artificial intelligence be great at chess and even
career achievements in program created by Google Go, but these are just the
defeated world champion beginnings of a much larger
condensed matter physics,
Lee Sedol in Go, a game revolution. What we’re seeing
and currently holds a
magnitudes more complex now shows that machine
Canada Research Chair in than chess, Melko began to learning has the power to
Computational Quantum think about how machine advance science, technology,
Many-Body Physics. learning and artificial and society in profound
intelligence could help ways,” said Melko.
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