Centre for Quantum Technologies
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The Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) in Singapore is a Research Centre of Excellence hosted by the
National University of Singapore The National University of Singapore (NUS) is a national public research university in Singapore. Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School, NUS is the oldest autonomous university in the c ...
. The Centre brings together physicists, computer scientists and engineers to do basic research on quantum physics and to build devices based on quantum phenomena. Experts in quantum technologies are applying their discoveries in computing, communications and sensing.


Mission statement

The mission of CQT is to conduct interdisciplinary theoretical and experimental research in quantum theory and its application to
information processing Information processing is the change (processing) of information in any manner detectable by an observer. As such, it is a process that ''describes'' everything that happens (changes) in the universe, from the falling of a rock (a change in posit ...
. The discovery that
quantum physics Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory in physics that provides a description of the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles. It is the foundation of all quantum physics including quantum chemistry, qua ...
allows fundamentally new modes of information processing has required that classical theories of computation, information and cryptography be superseded by their quantum generalizations. These hold out the promise of faster computation and more secure communication than is possible classically. A key focus of CQT is the development of quantum technologies for the coherent control of individual photons and atoms, exploring both the theory and the practical possibilities of constructing quantum-mechanical devices for
cryptography Cryptography, or cryptology (from grc, , translit=kryptós "hidden, secret"; and ''graphein'', "to write", or ''-logia'', "study", respectively), is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of adver ...
and
computation Computation is any type of arithmetic or non-arithmetic calculation that follows a well-defined model (e.g., an algorithm). Mechanical or electronic devices (or, historically, people) that perform computations are known as ''computers''. An es ...
.


History

Research in
quantum information science Quantum information science is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to understand the analysis, processing, and transmission of information using quantum mechanics principles. It combines the study of Information science with quantum effects in p ...
in Singapore began in 1998. It was initiated by Kwek Leong Chuan, Lai Choy Heng, Oh Choo Hiap and Kuldip Singh as a series of informal seminars at the National University of Singapore. The seminars attracted local researchers and as a result, the Quantum Information Technology Group (informally referred to in
Singlish Singlish (a portmanteau of ''Singapore'' and ''English'') is an English-based creole language spoken in Singapore. Singlish arose out of a situation of prolonged language contact between speakers of many different languages in Singapore, incl ...
as "quantum lah") was formed. In February 2002, with support from Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (
A*STAR The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore. The agency supports R&D that is aligned to areas of competitive advantage and national needs for Singapore ...
), research efforts in the field were consolidated. This led to a number of faculty appointments. In 2007 the Quantum Information Technology Group was selected as the core of Singapore's first Research Centre of Excellence. The Centre for Quantum Technologies was founded in December 2007 with $158 million to spend over ten years. The Centre for Quantum Technologies is funded by the Singapore National Research Foundation and the
Ministry of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...
. It is hosted by the National University of Singapore, but has significant autonomy both in pursuing its research goals and in governance. The centre has its own Governing Board, a Scientific Advisory Board and is headed by the centre director.


Research

The Centre for Quantum Technologies conducts research across a wide range of areas in quantum information science, from theoretical to applied. Research results from CQT are published in major journals, including
Nature Nature, in the broadest sense, is the physics, physical world or universe. "Nature" can refer to the phenomenon, phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general. The study of nature is a large, if not the only, part of science. ...
,
Science Science is a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earliest archeological evidence for ...
and
Physical Review Letters ''Physical Review Letters'' (''PRL''), established in 1958, is a peer-reviewed, scientific journal that is published 52 times per year by the American Physical Society. As also confirmed by various measurement standards, which include the ''Journa ...
. The centre has more than 20 research groups active across a range of topics:


Computer Science

Research areas include: *
Quantum algorithm In quantum computing, a quantum algorithm is an algorithm which runs on a realistic model of quantum computation, the most commonly used model being the quantum circuit model of computation. A classical (or non-quantum) algorithm is a finite sequ ...
,
Quantum network Quantum networks form an important element of quantum computing and quantum communication systems. Quantum networks facilitate the transmission of information in the form of quantum bits, also called qubits, between physically separated quantum ...
*
Communication complexity In theoretical computer science, communication complexity studies the amount of communication required to solve a problem when the input to the problem is distributed among two or more parties. The study of communication complexity was first intro ...
,
Query complexity In computational complexity the decision tree model is the model of computation in which an algorithm is considered to be basically a decision tree, i.e., a sequence of ''queries'' or ''tests'' that are done adaptively, so the outcome of the pre ...
* Interactive proofs,
Zero-knowledge proof In cryptography, a zero-knowledge proof or zero-knowledge protocol is a method by which one party (the prover) can prove to another party (the verifier) that a given statement is true while the prover avoids conveying any additional information a ...
s, and Quantum games


Interdisciplinary Theory

Research areas include: * Entanglement *
Quantum computation Quantum computing is a type of computation whose operations can harness the phenomena of quantum mechanics, such as superposition, interference, and entanglement. Devices that perform quantum computations are known as quantum computers. Though ...
and
cryptography Cryptography, or cryptology (from grc, , translit=kryptós "hidden, secret"; and ''graphein'', "to write", or ''-logia'', "study", respectively), is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of adver ...
*
Quantum information Quantum information is the information of the state of a quantum system. It is the basic entity of study in quantum information theory, and can be manipulated using quantum information processing techniques. Quantum information refers to both th ...
* Cold fermions


Experimental Labs

Research areas include: *
Quantum optics Quantum optics is a branch of atomic, molecular, and optical physics dealing with how individual quanta of light, known as photons, interact with atoms and molecules. It includes the study of the particle-like properties of photons. Photons have b ...
** Sources of entangled photon pairs ** Single atom quantum interfaces **
Quantum cryptography Quantum cryptography is the science of exploiting quantum mechanical properties to perform cryptographic tasks. The best known example of quantum cryptography is quantum key distribution which offers an information-theoretically secure solution ...
and Quantum hacking * Cold atoms and ions ** Atom Chips **
Ion trap An ion trap is a combination of electric and/or magnetic fields used to capture charged particles — known as ions — often in a system isolated from an external environment. Atomic and molecular ion traps have a number of applications in phy ...
s **
Optical cavities An optical cavity, resonating cavity or optical resonator is an arrangement of mirrors or other optical elements that forms a cavity resonator for light waves. Optical cavities are a major component of lasers, surrounding the gain medium and provi ...
**
Optical trap Optical tweezers (originally called single-beam gradient force trap) are scientific instruments that use a highly focused laser beam to hold and move microscopic and sub-microscopic objects like atoms, nanoparticles and droplets, in a manner simila ...
s **
Optical lattice An optical lattice is formed by the interference of counter-propagating laser beams, creating a spatially periodic polarization pattern. The resulting periodic potential may trap neutral atoms via the Stark shift. Atoms are cooled and congregat ...
s **
Fermionic condensate A fermionic condensate or Fermi–Dirac condensate is a superfluid phase formed by fermionic particles at low temperatures. It is closely related to the Bose–Einstein condensate, a superfluid phase formed by bosonic atoms under similar condit ...
s


Graduate Program

The Centre for Quantum Technologies provides a joint graduate studies program with the
National University of Singapore The National University of Singapore (NUS) is a national public research university in Singapore. Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School, NUS is the oldest autonomous university in the c ...
.


Visiting Fellows

The Centre attracts outstanding early- and mid-career researchers from leading institutions to work collaboratively with NUS host faculty engaged in quantum information science research. Notable visitors in the past include Mary Beth Ruskai and Reinhard Werner. Of late, researchers from technology spin-offs have also been invited.


Outreach and Events

CQT organises events including colloquia, talks, workshops, and conferences. The centre has a page on Facebook, a YouTube channel and tweets on Twitter as @quantumlah.CQT on Twitter as @quantumlah
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Facilities

CQT is the principal occupant of the building at 3 Science Drive 2 (off Lower Kent Ridge Road), Block S15 on the campus of the
National University of Singapore The National University of Singapore (NUS) is a national public research university in Singapore. Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School, NUS is the oldest autonomous university in the c ...
. The building is readily accessible by the NUS Internal Bus Service 'A1', 'A2', 'C' or 'D' to CQT. CQT's Quantum Cafe is well known to its visitors, staff and students, as is the large
food court A food court (in Asia-Pacific also called food hall or hawker centre) is generally an indoor plaza or common area within a facility that is contiguous with the counters of multiple food vendors and provides a common area for self-serve dinner. I ...
located behind the main building. Visitors travelling to CQT by taxi from the airport should expect a journey of 30–45 minutes and a fare of S$25–$30. A cab ride from the city-centre to CQT takes about 15–25 minutes with a fare of S$15–$20.


See also

*
Quantum information science Quantum information science is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to understand the analysis, processing, and transmission of information using quantum mechanics principles. It combines the study of Information science with quantum effects in p ...
*
National University of Singapore The National University of Singapore (NUS) is a national public research university in Singapore. Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School, NUS is the oldest autonomous university in the c ...
*
John Baez John Carlos Baez (; born June 12, 1961) is an American mathematical physicist and a professor of mathematics at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) in Riverside, California. He has worked on spin foams in loop quantum gravity, appl ...
*
Artur Ekert Artur Konrad Ekert FRS (born 19 September 1961) is a Polish professor of quantum physics at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, professorial fellow in quantum physics and cryptography at Merton College, Oxford, Lee Kong Chian C ...
* Lai Choy Heng * Vlatko Vedral


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Centre For Quantum Technologies Physics institutes Quantum information science Research institutes in Singapore National University of Singapore 2007 establishments in Singapore