Peter McConnell

Current research project

Non-Linear gates enabling Universal Quantum Computation with continuous variables

Quantum computation is a very exciting and important field of research. The importance is due to the fast development in technology used in building computers. Here components of computers are getting smaller at an exponential rate, such that soon these parts will no longer obey the laws of Classical Physics and are now subject to the laws of a Quantum environment.

There are two different areas of study in theoretical quantum computation, which are quantum computation with discrete variables and quantum computation with continuous variables respectively.  

In my research, I look at the less studied continuous case which is needed to study the computation of mathematical problems involving continuous functions and if the quantum computer can solve them more efficiently than a classical one can. It is also able to simulate physical quantities such as distance and voltage to a far greater degree of accuracy. They also can describe physical systems that are distinguishable and have infinite dimensions. Such as a computer circuit, where the current is a continuous quantity, it is only digitalised by taking values above(below) a certain threshold as a 1(0).

By Gottesmann-Knill Theorem we know, that to be able to simulate quantum computation with continuous variables on a classical computer we require non-linear gates, specifically of a cubic order or higher. This, in turn, leads to universal quantum computation.

In my research, I look at the simulation of the generation of resource states for these non-linear gates in experimental settings such as optomechanical systems.

Biography

I was born 01/05/1995. I attended Hillsborough Primary school, which later became Downshire Primary School from 1999 until 2006. I studied at Wallace High school from 2006 -2013 where I completed my GCSE’s and A-levels.

In 2013-2017 I studied an undergraduate Master’s degree (MSci) in Mathematics at Queen’s University Belfast which I passed with First-Class honours. In this I completed the dissertation “How to build a car out of your cactus” which focused on the study of Quantum heat engines, taking inspiration from the process of photosynthesis by deep-sea algae.

In October 2017 I started my PhD in Physics titled “Non-Linear gates enabling Universal Quantum Computation with Continuous Variables” funded by the Department of the Economy’s Adele Silver Award.

Research interests

• Quantum information

• Quantum Communication

• Open Quantum systems

• Optomechanical systems