SEPTEMBER 25, 2006 - 12:20 ET
WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - Sept. 25, 2006) - A new national network, headquartered at the University of Waterloo's Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC), will ensure that research laboratories and tomorrow's workforce are populated with quantum-aware graduates. It will also provide made-in-Canada breakthroughs, protect them and promote them to private and public sectors.
QuantumWorks is an innovation platform, funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), that will officially launch on Sept 27 and 28. Innovation platforms are special initiatives that play a role in shaping the direction of Canadian research in a targeted area of emerging scientific and economic interests.
The network will link quantum researchers from across Canada with industrial and government partners, and lead the country into the next technological revolution -- that of quantum information.
"QuantumWorks will build upon established national expertise in quantum cryptography, quantum algorithms and quantum information processing devices," said the networks scientific director, Raymond Laflamme. "Its research programs and national information training strategy will ensure that Canada benefits from the tremendous work going on right across the country."
Laflamme is the director of IQC, Canada Research Chair in Quantum Information and director of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research's Quantum Information Processing program. He will be joined in leading QuantumWorks by theme leaders Gilles Brassard from the University of Montreal, Richard Cleve from UW and Barry Sanders from the University of Calgary.
Academic partners include McGill University, University of Montreal, Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, National Research Council Canada, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics and the University of Calgary. Industrial partners include Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP, Bruker Biospin Ltd., Certicom Corp., IBM Corp., Research In Motion Ltd. and Sun Microsystems Inc.
Launch events include a full-day conference on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Workshops on intellectual property management and research-industry collaboration will follow on Thursday, Sept. 28.
The first annual QuantumWorks conference will provide a unique opportunity for attendees to interact as well as exchange ideas regarding research and innovation with Canada's leading quantum researchers, along with industry and government representatives.
In addition to presentations from QuantumWorks lead researchers, the conference will feature speakers:
- Michael Binder, assistant deputy minister of spectrum, information technologies and telecommunications, Industry Canada
- Nigel Lloyd, executive vice-president, NSERC
- Bob Gelfond, founder and chief executive officer, MagiQ Technologies Inc.
- Peter Calamai, national science reporter, Toronto Star
- Jim Mutter, president and CEO, hyperWALLET Systems Inc.
The intellectual property workshop will be led by QuantumWorks partner Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP and will feature specialists with extensive experience in dealing with intellectual property in emerging fields.
The research-industry collaboration workshop will bring together QuantumWorks researchers with the network's business, non-profit and government partners to discum communication networks..
Ashwin Nayak
Efficient Quantum Algorithms and Protocols
Experimental prototypes of the quantum mechanical computer have already been built, and it is only a matter of time before they will process billions of calculations simultaneously. This tremendous increase in computing power will obviously be of benefit. At the same time, these same quantum computers could be used to "crack" the most sophisticated data encryption schemes. Dr. Ashwin Nayak and a team of researchers at the University of Waterloo will devise new procedures that use the power of quantum computing to solve a variety of problems such as those in statistical physics, and also devise protocols for cryptography that ensure the strongest possible security.
David Kribs
Mathematical Aspects of Quantum Error Correction
Experimental prototypes of the quantum mechanical computer have already been built, and it is only a matter of time before they will process billions of calculations simultaneously. These amazing possibilities face challenges including "errors" that disrupt quantum systems as they evolve in time. Dr. David W. Kribs and a team at the University of Guelph will use a mathematical approach to find new techniques for error correction and maximize the potential of quantum computers. Since their work is interdisciplinary, it will offer opportunities to apply tools from physics and computer science to these problems.
Jan Kycia
Studying and Applying Quantum Effects in Superconducting Devices
Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) are currently the most sensitive sensors of magnetic fields. For example, a SQUID can detect a change in magnetic field as little as 100 billion times weaker than the earth's magnetic field which is responsible for moving compass needles. Dr. Jan Kycia is leading a research team at the University of Waterloo that is dedicated to making these devices even better by studying the intrinsic noise that is currently a significant obstacle for their use in quantum computing. The research will also produce new measurement techniques that could be used in everything from medical scans to mineral exploration. Jan work in is in the area of superconductivity.