| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/T023422/1 |
| Title: |
Optimising Information Processing for Quantum Technologies |
| Principal Investigator: |
Berta, Dr MA |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Computing |
| Organisation: |
Imperial College London |
| Scheme: |
New Investigator Award |
| Starts: |
01 March 2020 |
Ends: |
28 February 2022 |
Value (£): |
275,132
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Fundamentals of Computing |
Quantum Optics & Information |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
| Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
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15 Jan 2020
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EPSRC ICT Prioritisation Panel January 2020
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Announced
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
Quantum information science is a dynamic, interdisciplinary field at the intersection of physics, mathematics, computer science, and engineering. In recent years, applied quantum technologies have promised a transformative impact on various areas of computer science. Famously, this includes quantum computers running dramatically faster algorithms than are available for classical computers and quantum cryptography offering the prospect of physically secure quantum communication over the envisioned quantum internet. A most striking practical example being the recently realised Chinese satellite-based distribution of entangled photon pairs allowing for secure communication between two satellite-to-ground downlinks with a total length of 2,400 kilometres.
Nevertheless, gaining full control over quantum systems remains a huge technological challenge. Noise in quantum architectures still severely limits the size of quantum circuits that can be executed reliably. Hence, it is important to realise that practical quantum devices are noisy and at best of intermediate scale. Much of the theory work on quantum information processing, however, concerns idealised environments and architectures. As such we lack the appropriate theoretical instruments to realise the full potential of practical quantum technologies. The goal of this proposal is to fill this gap by delivering mathematical tools for optimising information processing on small and intermediate scale quantum devices.
A most essential task for practical architectures for quantum information processing concerns the design of protocols for protecting information against quantum noise. Most prominently, the problem of error correction appears in the design of reliable quantum memories for quantum computing or the design of physically secure communication protocols in quantum networks for cryptography.
To tackle these questions, we propose to move away from approaches rooted in physics but rather to apply cross disciplinary ideas with strong elements from computer science. Our methods are based on a specifically tailored bottom-up approach employing analytical and numerical methods from optimisation theory, as well as approximation algorithms from theoretical computer science. The overall goal is to derive optimised error correction codes that perform certifiably well for small and intermediate size quantum devices.
The first component of the project will develop optimised error correction codes for the design of quantum memories in quantum computing. Crucially, these codes will perform certifiably well for small and intermediate size quantum devices and will allow to give answers to practical and equally fundamental questions such as: How many logical quantum bits (qubits) can be stored safely in a quantum memory of up to 50 physical qubits? The proposed methods include numerical tools such as see-saw and gradient descent, as well as analytical tools based on non-commutative sum-of-squares hierarchies and epsilon-net techniques.
The second component of the project will develop optimised error correction codes for secure communication in quantum networks. Here, as a variant of protecting quantum information against quantum noise, we will aim in a cryptographic setting for keeping information private from adversarial parties. Our goal is to optimise existing quantum network infrastructures by answering basic questions such as: How much information can be securely transmitted over few uses of a noisy quantum communication channel? Towards this goal, we propose to combine seminal classical results from Shannon information theory together with optimisation-theoretic extensions of the first component.
Taken together, the two components will lead to practical quantum error correction codes for small and intermediate scale quantum devices and contribute towards an underlying theory for unlocking the full potential of quantum technologies.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.imperial.ac.uk |