Vortices in a Bose-Einstein condensate
For more information contact David Feder ()
Quantum Optics, which concerns the interaction between light and matter, is remarkably vast in its scope: testing the foundations of quantum physics to performing ultra-precise measurements; creating and probing the simplest possible quantum systems to producing amazing effects in large collective systems; and determining the constants of nature to creating quantum computers. Quantum optics is a close collaboration between theory and experiment, and its impact is acknowledged by Nobel prizes for quantum optics in 1997, 2001, and 2005.
The Quantum Optics faculty at the University of Calgary is ideally balanced: three experimentalists and three theorists, with leading research in spectroscopy, cold atoms, quantum technology, nonlinear optics, and quantum information science. With forty students and postdoctoral researchers in quantum optics, quantum optics in Calgary is diverse and dynamic - and always has openings for top students.
The University of Calgary is also home to the Institute for Quantum Information Science (IQIS) which is a multidisciplinary group of researchers from the areas of Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics. Many members of the quantum optics group are closely linked to this institute and perform research on quantum optical realizations of quantum information. More information on IQIS can be found at http://www.iqis.org.
Our group members perform research in
| Quantum Information Technology with Light and Experimental Quantum Optics | 
Lasers in the quantum optics lab |
| Dr. Alex Lvovsky | |
| Photons make an excellent candidate as carriers of quantum information. One
can build an entire quantum information processor by means of
single-photon sources, detectors, and simple linear optical elements such
as mirrors and beam splitters. Our group's effort is concentrated on
implementing light for the purposes of quantum information technology
- that is, learning to synthesize, control, characterize
and store arbitrary quantum states of the electromagnetic field. We are a
young, international, well-equipped experimental group working at the very
forefront of experimental quantum information science.
For more information visit http://qis.ucalgary.ca/quantech/ |
| Theoretical Quantum Optics and Nonlinear Optics | 
Proposal for large photon-photon interaction |
| Dr. Peter Marzlin | |
| Atom-light interaction touches most fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics;
many-particle effects in dense atomic gases, the nature of quantum states of
light, and even relativity are relevant to understand it. Despite this
conceptual depth it is also very close to experiments. We investigate novel
effects in this interaction for use in quantum information processing;
stopping of light or strong interaction between two photons may be used to
realize a quantum memory or controlled quantum gates, respectively. We study
the use of electromagnetically induced transparency, atom-atom correlations,
and dielectric media for this goal and are also considering problems in
relativistic quantum information theory.
For more information visit http://qis.ucalgary.ca/~pmarzlin/ |
| Laser Spectroscopy | 
Spectroscopy lab in Calgary |
| Dr. Nasser Moazzen-Ahmadi | |
| The spectrum of molecules and atoms can often be measured with
unparalleled precision and has universal features which are valid
everywhere in our galaxy. We exploit this to study the formation of complex
polyatomic molecules in space and the energy flow among different parts of a
molecule. We generally are focused on three areas: spectroscopy of transient
molecules, spectroscopy of molecular bending at the Canadian Light Source
in Saskatoon (www.lightsource.ca),
and the intramolecular energy flow in molecules such as ethane
using high resolution vibration-rotation spectra.
For more information visit http://qis.ucalgary.ca/~nahmadi/ |
| Quantum Information Science | 
Animation of quantum cryptography |
| Dr. Barry Sanders FInstP FOSA FAIP, iCORE Professor of Quantum Information Science | |
| Quantum information science is revolutionizing the principles of
information, communication, and computation. Our efforts are focused on
studies of quantum information resources (such as entanglement and
measurements), tasks (such as quantum teleportation, cryptography, and
fingerprinting), and implementations (such as photon-based realizations),
and our goal is to make quantum information work in the real world.
For more information visit http://qis.ucalgary.ca/~bsanders/ |
| Ion Trapping and Low Density Systems | 
Ion trap in Calgary |
| Dr. Robert I. Thompson | |
| Ion traps allow long-term storage of isolated ions and thus they provide
the perfect system for the study of isolated quantum systems and a strong
candidate to enable quantum computation. We study mixtures of ionic species
stored in a Paul-type ion trap and focus on sympathetic cooling, mass
spectrometry, and studies on the gas-phase reactivity of ions. Our
activities include laser cooling, spectroscopy of ions, and low-energy
collisions. We also participate in international collaborations, such as
the TITAN ion trapping system for the study of stable and unstable ionic
isotopes, based at the TRIUMF National laboratory
(www.triumf.ca/titan/).
For more information visit http://phas.ucalgary.ca/~thompson/ |
| Quantum Cryptography and Communication | 
Quantum teleportation in Geneva, Dr. Tittel’s former place of work |
| Dr. Wolfgang Tittel, iCORE Industrial Research Chair | |
| Photons and atoms are key constituents for long distance quantum
communication and quantum networks. Our group’s effort focuses on the
building of photon-based quantum cryptography systems through optical
fibres, and targets the development of a quantum repeater to extend quantum
crypto-graphy past its current distance limit. This includes developing
novel techniques for rendering photonic quantum communication primitives
such as quantum teleportation practical, plus hitherto unrealized means for
efficient and reversible transfer of quantum information between photons and
atoms for temporal storage.
For more information contact wtittel@qis.ucalgary.ca. |
