Research summary
Quantum computers operate according to the physical laws of quantum mechanics. On a theoretical level, quantum computation promises to solve certain problems exponentially faster than the best-known classical methods can, with applications from breaking conventional cryptography to discovering new materials, drugs and processes for fighting climate change. As Canada Research Chair in Quantum Computing, Dr. Matthew Amy aims to understand and ultimately access the real-world computational capabilities and applications of quantum computers.
He and his research team are devising and applying mathematical methods to develop reliable, high-performance, reusable quantum software. To do this, they are advancing methods in three areas: specification, verification and optimization. In the short term, their work will allow scientists to experiment with available quantum devices and assess the computational advantages of future devices. In the long term, the lessons they learn and the tools they develop will enable the programming of large-scale, universal quantum computers.