When quantum is not desirable: quantum noise vs. quantum technologies. One of the key remaining obstacles to the successful deployment of quantum computers & sensors in science, industry, and society is the existence of noise sources that are themselves quantum, and thus have an unmatched potential for disruption. This project will attack this problem by providing (i) a detailed understanding of the impact of quantum noise sources, and developing protocols to (ii) characterize and (iii) overcome ....When quantum is not desirable: quantum noise vs. quantum technologies. One of the key remaining obstacles to the successful deployment of quantum computers & sensors in science, industry, and society is the existence of noise sources that are themselves quantum, and thus have an unmatched potential for disruption. This project will attack this problem by providing (i) a detailed understanding of the impact of quantum noise sources, and developing protocols to (ii) characterize and (iii) overcome the negative effects such realistic noise entails. In taking this necessary step for the implementation of these breakthrough technologies, it will not only significantly advance knowledge but will have a direct impact in the development of a technology in which Australia and other leading nations are heavily invested.Read moreRead less
Outmaneuvering correlated noise in quantum computers. The project aims to characterise and control quantum machines available today. These machines overwhelmingly suffer from noise with complex structures. Thus, a key target of the project is to develop a theory to describe and manipulate complex quantum processes. The project then intends to apply this theory to commercial-grade quantum computers. This approach is anticipated to lead to a new understanding of time-correlated complex quantum pro ....Outmaneuvering correlated noise in quantum computers. The project aims to characterise and control quantum machines available today. These machines overwhelmingly suffer from noise with complex structures. Thus, a key target of the project is to develop a theory to describe and manipulate complex quantum processes. The project then intends to apply this theory to commercial-grade quantum computers. This approach is anticipated to lead to a new understanding of time-correlated complex quantum processes and develop methods to enhance the performance of today's quantum computers. Noise characterisation and mitigation should have commercial value and benefit research groups working to develop quantum technologies, both in Australia and internationally.Read moreRead less
Quantum measurement as a resource. Advanced quantum computers will use modular measurements significantly enhancing their capabilities. However, due to the noisy environment, the measurements may have nontrivial effects on the computation. Making best use of realistic (hence imperfect) measurements is a challenging problem that hinders the development of these technologies. This project, using modern tools of resource theory, aims to design optimal realistic measurement procedures for near-term ....Quantum measurement as a resource. Advanced quantum computers will use modular measurements significantly enhancing their capabilities. However, due to the noisy environment, the measurements may have nontrivial effects on the computation. Making best use of realistic (hence imperfect) measurements is a challenging problem that hinders the development of these technologies. This project, using modern tools of resource theory, aims to design optimal realistic measurement procedures for near-term noisy quantum devices. The expected outcomes of the project are refined methods to optimise quantum measurements in today's rudimentary quantum machines. This will provide a significant benefit to the Australian community, advancing the development of disruptive quantum technologies.Read moreRead less
Symmetry and topology for quantum information. This project aims to develop improved, less resource-intensive methods to store and process information in quantum computers. Quantum computers large enough to solve practical problems are hugely expensive. This project will use the scientific understanding of quantum many-body systems to protect information from noise with low overhead. More efficient fault-tolerant protocols are expected to benefit experimental quantum computing research, simplify ....Symmetry and topology for quantum information. This project aims to develop improved, less resource-intensive methods to store and process information in quantum computers. Quantum computers large enough to solve practical problems are hugely expensive. This project will use the scientific understanding of quantum many-body systems to protect information from noise with low overhead. More efficient fault-tolerant protocols are expected to benefit experimental quantum computing research, simplifying the task of building practical, commercially relevant quantum computers in the medium term. This may also lead to the development of a new-high tech industry in quantum technology.Read moreRead less
Heisenberg-limited lasers: building the revolution. The project aims to design and build a revolutionary new type of laser based on the ground-breaking 2020 Nature Physics paper by the two Chief Investigators. The significance of this work is that it overturns 60 years of theory about the limits to laser coherence, by applying 21st century quantum theory and quantum technology to the problem. This project expects to greatly advance the theory and, by instigating a collaboration with world-leadin ....Heisenberg-limited lasers: building the revolution. The project aims to design and build a revolutionary new type of laser based on the ground-breaking 2020 Nature Physics paper by the two Chief Investigators. The significance of this work is that it overturns 60 years of theory about the limits to laser coherence, by applying 21st century quantum theory and quantum technology to the problem. This project expects to greatly advance the theory and, by instigating a collaboration with world-leading experimentalists working with superconducting quantum devices, to demonstrate a laser with coherence beyond what was thought possible. Benefits of the project should flow from the manifold applications for highly coherent radiation, including scaling up superconducting quantum computing.Read moreRead less
Ultimate quantum limits to coherence. This project aims to discover the ultimate quantum limits to optical coherence. Quantum physics underpin the miniaturisation of technology, and quantum devices can do things better, often with vastly fewer resources, than conventional devices. Lasers underpin most modern optical technologies, and have been studied for decades, but the ultimate quantum limits are unknown. To find them, this project will use theoretical techniques that have not hitherto been c ....Ultimate quantum limits to coherence. This project aims to discover the ultimate quantum limits to optical coherence. Quantum physics underpin the miniaturisation of technology, and quantum devices can do things better, often with vastly fewer resources, than conventional devices. Lasers underpin most modern optical technologies, and have been studied for decades, but the ultimate quantum limits are unknown. To find them, this project will use theoretical techniques that have not hitherto been combined. This project will likely influence the long-term development of lasers and other quantum devices and underpin innovation in miniaturised optical technology and other quantum devices, leading ultimately to commercial products that yield a better quality of life.Read moreRead less
Coherent Laser Levitation for Precision Sensing and Enabling Science. When light collides with matter, it may exert a force called radiation pressure. This project aims to use radiation pressure to levitate a small mirror. Using a tripod of laser beams, it is possible to levitate and trap the mirror in a stable position. Radiation pressure has been used before to levitate, but previous work has always involved scattering light from the levitating object. This project proposes the use of a high q ....Coherent Laser Levitation for Precision Sensing and Enabling Science. When light collides with matter, it may exert a force called radiation pressure. This project aims to use radiation pressure to levitate a small mirror. Using a tripod of laser beams, it is possible to levitate and trap the mirror in a stable position. Radiation pressure has been used before to levitate, but previous work has always involved scattering light from the levitating object. This project proposes the use of a high quality mirror, allowing the collection of the reflected light and the accurate measurement and control of the position of the mirror as it floats on the laser beams. Using the unique properties of the floating mirror, it will be possible to search for signatures of quantum gravity and develop tools for ultra-precision metrology.Read moreRead less
Bulk-boundary correspondence in quantum many-body systems. This project will develop theoretical and numerical methods to explore how the bulk properties of quantum materials at low temperature are manifested on the edge of the material. Characterising this bulk-boundary correspondence will uncover new regimes of physics and underpin the development of powerful quantum technologies in the laboratory.
Quantum algorithms for computational physics. The project intends to provide a solid base of quantum algorithms that would enable quantum computers to tackle currently insurmountable problems. Many of the highest-value applications in computing are based on solving problems in physics. Quantum computers take advantage of the power of quantum mechanics to outperform even the fastest conceivable supercomputers. This project plans to use new tools in quantum algorithms to provide much faster ways f ....Quantum algorithms for computational physics. The project intends to provide a solid base of quantum algorithms that would enable quantum computers to tackle currently insurmountable problems. Many of the highest-value applications in computing are based on solving problems in physics. Quantum computers take advantage of the power of quantum mechanics to outperform even the fastest conceivable supercomputers. This project plans to use new tools in quantum algorithms to provide much faster ways for quantum computers to simulate physics, including molecular modelling, field theories that explain elementary forces in the universe, and differential equations needed to model classical physics. The increases in computing speed have the potential to enable new technology in areas such as drug design and materials science, as well as providing testable predictions for new theories of physics.Read moreRead less
Atomic forces for sorting ultrabright nanodiamonds. This project aims to sort fluorescent nanodiamonds according to their brightness using atomic radiation pressure. Fluorescent nanodiamonds can overcome all limitations associated with conventional fluorescent bio-labels. While readily available, their brightness varies greatly, so a method for yielding high-quality material with consistent brightness is needed. This project combines techniques from laser manipulation of cold atoms and microflui ....Atomic forces for sorting ultrabright nanodiamonds. This project aims to sort fluorescent nanodiamonds according to their brightness using atomic radiation pressure. Fluorescent nanodiamonds can overcome all limitations associated with conventional fluorescent bio-labels. While readily available, their brightness varies greatly, so a method for yielding high-quality material with consistent brightness is needed. This project combines techniques from laser manipulation of cold atoms and microfluidics to create an optofluidic method of particle separation. The proposed device could sort nanodiamonds more than a billion times faster than active sorting techniques. This is expected to lead to better tools for bio-imaging and bio-manipulation.Read moreRead less