Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Theory Group (QuOTh-QI)

Optical quantum computing

The Optical Quantum Computing Program lies within the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation & Communication Technology and is funded by the Australian Research Council and The University of Queensland. It investigates various approaches to quantum computing in which the quantum states of optical modes form the qubits.

The two major paradigms pursued are the single photon approach of Knill, Laflamme and Milburn, Nature 409, 46 (2001) and the coherent state approach of Ralph et al, Phys. Rev. A 68, 042319 (2003). Both of these schemes employ linear optical processing but enhancement via non-linear techniques is also being explored.

Our main collaborators are the experimental programs at UQ, Griffith University, the Australian National University and UNSW Canberra. Our main international collaborators include University of Bristol, UK; National University of Singapore; and University of Toronto, Canada.

Quantum communication

The Quantum Communication Program lies within the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation & Communication Technology and is funded by the Australian Research Council, UQ and the Defence Science and Technology Organization. Quantum information research has traditionally concentrated on discrete variables such as spin with two-dimensional Hilbert spaces. Recently there has been much interest in quantum information over continuous variables - infinite dimensional systems. This program investigates discrete variable quantum communication protocols as well as continuous variable generalisations of quantum teleportation, key distribution, and distillation of entanglement.

We collaborate closely with Centre of Excellence groups at the Australian National University and Griffith University as well as international groups such as the Max-Planck-Forschungsgruppe fur Optik, Information und Photonik in Erlangen Germany, the Technical University of Denmark, and the University of Tokyo, Japan.

Relativistic quantum information

Until recently, most quantum information research has been formulated in a non-relativistic setting. The desire for a better understanding of the interaction between quantum mechanics and relativity, plus the ever-increasing sensitivity of experiments has stimulated research into relativistic quantum information. Currently, we are interested in quantum information protocols and entanglement in curved space-time.

We collaborate with other groups at UQ and the University of Sydney as well as international groups at: the University of Nottingham, UK, the University of Vienna, Austria, and the University of Waterloo, Canada.