Quantum Weirdness for Future Technologies
Quantum mechanics, one of the pillars of modern physics, can predict the behaviour of light and matter to an astonishing degree. But the quantum world is also very weird and different from the world we usually experience. Things happen randomly with no apparent cause: a particle can be in two places at once and distant particles can exhibit what Albert Einstein referred to as “spooky action at a distance.”
Recent developments have provided a glimpse of the technological promise of quantum weirdness. For example, computers that operate on quantum-bits, rather than the language of 0s and 1s in today’s laptops, would solve tasks that stump current computers.
Dr. Kevin Resch, Canada Research Chair in Optical Quantum Technologies, is working to develop quantum mechanical sources of light for new quantum technologies.
Resch aims to implement a new protocol for secure remote access to remote quantum computers—the “quantum cloud.” He plans to transform quantum-based technology into an optical imaging platform capable of measuring biological tissue structure for medical applications, such as non-invasive medical imaging for early-stage disease detection.
Resch’s research will help shape the coming second quantum revolution and result in quantum technologies for applications from computing to imaging.