SC189 Quantum-Enhanced Technologies

Sunday, May 16, 2010
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Ian Walmsley; Univ. of Oxford, UK
Level: Beginner (no background or minimal training is necessary to understand course material)


Course Description

This course will provide a tutorial overview of the sorts of enhancements that quantum physics can provide for technology, and a short survey of applications and potential applications. These will include quantum interferometry and metrology, microscopy, communications, cryptography, frequency standards and clock synchronization, as well as computation and information processing. The rudiments of quantum mechanics needed to understand the technology will be covered, focusing particularly on quantum interference and entanglement, as well as laboratory measurement methods. The ideas concerning the application of these principles to the enhancement of important technologies will then be discussed. One of the critical issues in this area is how to design schemes that are robust with respect to unavoidable environmental noise. The critical practical issues that confront real-world implementation of these concepts are many, and important performance parameters that might limit the utility of quantum-enhanced technologies will also be examined.


Benefits and Learning Objectives

This course should enable you to:

  • Understand some basic ideas of quantum mechanics relevant to technology.
  • Describe key issues related to several classes of applications.
  • Explain fundamentals of the technological applications that can benefit from quantum enhancement.
  • Discuss the limitations to performance.
  • Follow the progress of the field in the future.

Intended Audience

The course is intended for those would like to gain a basic understanding of the ways and means by which quantum mechanics can be used to enhance technologies that are critical to the modern world. Some knowledge (a college course at an intermediate level) of quantum mechanical concepts and optics is recommended.


Biography

Ian A. Walmsley is the Hooke Professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Oxford, and is head of atomic and laser physics. He was educated at Imperial College, University of London, and the Institute of Optics, University of Rochester. His research is in the area of quantum optics and quantum control, using the tools of ultrafast optics.