Website: http://www.math.uwaterloo.ca/~akempf

Research involves

Studying how relativity and quantum theory affect the flow of information in physical systems.

Research relevance

This research will establish new information-theoretic tools with the main aim of unifying quantum theory and gravity, and further understanding of the physical processes at the beginning of the universe, to help develop, among other things, quantum computing technology.

How quantum theory and relativity affect the flow of information

Every flow of information is subject to the laws of physics, which include the laws of quantum theory and relativity.

For example, the speed of light, due to special relativity, implies that computer chips must get smaller to get faster. But quantum fluctuation effects limit how small computer chips can get. An exciting discovery is that quantum parallelization phenomena—or the ability of quantum computers to perform two calculations simultaneously—could increase the speed of computers beyond what classical computing technology could achieve.

Dr. Achim Kempf, Canada Research Chair in the Physics of Information, is examining the crucial connection between discrete forms of information, such as sequences of individual numbers, or particles, and continuous forms of information, represented, for example, by sound or electromagnetic fields.

Kempf is pioneering research into the fundamental laws of nature that could unify quantum theory and general relativity, and reveal new insight into the big bang origin of all information in the universe. Kempf’s work predicts effects that may become observable, for example, with the recently-launched Planck satellite telescope.

Kempf’s work also aims to use the same information-theoretic mathematical methods to develop biological applications (related to the genetic code) in engineering. He has already patented a new data compression method and is currently developing information-theoretically optimized radar signals for landmine detection.