Research summary
Computers are getting more and more powerful—but there are still some calculations that no normal computer can perform. This might change if we could take advantage of the features of quantum physics to build a radically new type of computer: the quantum computer.
Dr. Jeff Lundeen, Canada Research Chair in Quantum Photonics, is trying to create quantum computers using photons (particles of light). He and his research team are using the rules of quantum physics, which allow individual subatomic particles to be in several places at once. Their research is driving the invention of new medical and environmental sensors and telecommunications systems, and could lead to new quantum technologies that will allow computers to perform calculations that are currently unimaginable.