Candidate: Hyeran Kong
David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science
We give a dissipative quantum search algorithm that is based on a novel dissipative query model. If there are $N$ items and $M$ of them are marked, this algorithm performs a fixed-point quantum search using $O(\sqrt{N/M}\log(1/\epsilon))$ queries with error bounded by $\epsilon$. In addition, we present a continuous-time version of this algorithm in terms of Lindblad evolution.
David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science
We present a quantum algorithm for simulating the dynamics of Hamiltonians that are not necessarily sparse. Our algorithm is based on the assumption that the entries of the Hamiltonian are stored in a data structure that allows for the efficient preparation of states that encode the rows of the Hamiltonian. We use a linear combination of quantum walks to achieve a poly-logarithmic dependence on the precision.
Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) are revolutionizing the solar cell research field - the record power conversion efficiency of MHPs based solar cells has reached 22.7%, which rivals that of silicon solar cells. What is particularly exciting about MHPs is that they can be manufactured into solar cell devices at low-costing using low temperature solution processing. Based on these attributes, MHPs have been called the “next big thing in photovoltaics” and worldwide research efforts have grown explosively.
Entangled photons offer an exquisite probe to correlated dynamics within a material system. In my talk I shall discuss some recent experiments and our theoretical investigations into developing an input/output scattering theory approach that connects an incoming photon Fock state to an outgoing Fock state, treating both the internal (material) and photon dynamics on a consistent footing. As proof of concept, we show how entangled photons can probe the inner workings of a model system undergoing spontaneous symmetry breaking.
April 12, 2018 – Ottawa, Ont. – National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces
Port-based teleportation (PBT) is a variant of the well-known task of quantum teleportation in which Alice and Bob share multiple entangled states called "ports". While in the standard teleportation protocol using a single entangled state the receiver Bob has to apply a non-trivial correction unitary, in PBT he merely has to pick up the right quantum system at a port specified by the classical message he received from Alice.
Chad Orzel, Union College
The invention of quantum physics in the early 20th century forced scientists to reconsider many cherished ideas from classical physics, leading to revolutionary changes in our scientific and philosophical understanding of the universe. Quantum phenomena have also proven to be a rich source of metaphors and inspiration for fiction.
Cavity optomechanics, a field which studies the interplay between the photonic and phononic modes of an optical cavity, has seen rapid progress over the past decade. Micro/nano-scale optomechanical cavities have demonstrated potential for use in technologies such as quantum-limited metrology and transduction, as well as probes for exploring the fundamental nature of quantum mechanics.
With traditional classical complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) computing struggling to keep up with Moore’s law, interest in quantum computing has exploded and the University of Waterloo is at the centre of this technological revolution.