What does the future hold for computer science?
Imran Mirza, associate professor of physics at Miami University, explores this through quantum computing.
Dr. Imran Mirza is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at Miami University of Ohio. Before his appointment at Miami, he served as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He earned his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Oregon.
Dr. Mirza’s research focuses on theoretical quantum optics, particularly its applications in quantum information processing and quantum computation. At Miami University, he develops theoretical models to examine how light interacts with matter on an atomic or quantum scale, especially in realistic scenarios where these systems interact with their environments. His research group investigates how crucial aspects of light-matter interactions can be harnessed to create innovative quantum technologies, including quantum computers and quantum networks, while also exploring the fundamental physics behind these interactions.
Realistic Quantum Optical Models
We are living in the age of information, where cell phones and the internet have become essential parts of our lives. In 1965, Gordon E. Moore from Intel, predicted that the number of transistors per microchip would double every 18 months. However, by 2016, the computer industry announced that further reductions in chip sizes would not be feasible after a decade or so due to approaching atomic size limitations. This raises an important question: What does the future hold for computer science?
In the 1990s, physicists recognized this challenge and argued that as we approach atomic scales, we are entering a new revolution known as quantum information technologies. The rules governing the quantum or atomic world differ significantly from those of our everyday lives. For instance, quantum particles can be entangled, where observing the property of one particle determines the property of another irrespective of distance between the two particles.
Our research group at Miami University focuses on leveraging entanglement and other special quantum effects to store and communicate information using light at the atomic scale. One major challenge is environmental effects that can quickly disrupt these useful quantum properties. Our recent studies, however, suggested that utilizing collective atomic effects can protect information from environmental noise, making it valuable for quantum computing and other kinds of quantum information devices.
Read More:
Quantum Leap
