Benjamin MacLellan
PHD STUDENT, PHYSICS (QUANTUM INFORMATION)
Unlocking the promise of quantum technology
SCIENCE
Benjamin MacLellan
PHD STUDENT, PHYSICS (QUANTUM INFORMATION)
Unlocking the promise of quantum technology
Can highly precise quantum sensors teach us completely new things about the universe?
That’s one of the many questions Benjamin MacLellan, a PhD student in the Faculty of Science, is asking as he charts an unmarked trail at Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC).
“We're on this cusp, where quantum technologies are accelerating,” he says. “We don't fully know what will and what won’t work.”
The unknowns may sound daunting, but they’re what keep Benjamin returning to his research every day, exploring infinite possibilities in collaboration with some of the world’s leading researchers.
Cultivating a shared language at the IQC
While studying in Waterloo’s Department of Physics and Astronomy during his undergrad, Benjamin completed a co-op term at l’Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) in Montreal. He went on to pursue his master’s in physics there, focusing on the study of quantum photonics.
That research left him with more questions than answers. And heading back to Waterloo’s IQC was the perfect way to explore them. As a world-leading hub for the study of quantum information, the IQC is home to world-renowned professors and accomplished teams doing cutting-edge research.
“IQC brings together people from many different areas — physics, chemistry, computer science, math, engineering and more. To me, the most exciting part is that there’s people working in all these niche parts of quantum science, but everyone can talk to each other and collaborate and have this sharing of ideas. The IQC was really built around that cross-pollination between fields.”
Exploring infinite possibilities
There’s no question that quantum physics is a complicated subject to explain, especially when Benjamin is delivering outreach talks to local high school students whose only exposure is through superhero movies.
Quantum physics studies the building blocks of nature, looking at extremely small particles of matter and energy, like electrons and photons, to understand their properties and behaviours. Benjamin says what many people don’t realize is that quantum mechanics are at work in the world around us and in the technologies that we use every day.
“Your computer and all the logic that it’s doing is based off of our fundamental understanding of quantum mechanics. Same with lasers that enable our internet infrastructure and MRIs for visualizing tissue and disease inside the body.”
Building a deeper understanding of the rules of quantum physics and how they interact can open up novel possibilities. That’s what his PhD research aims to do by developing computational techniques to study and design quantum systems. As we begin to have better control of those systems, how can we create specific types of quantum entanglement that can power new technologies?
Quantum entanglement refers to a state in which two or more particles link up and stay linked in a certain way, no matter the distance between them. Simply put, in this unified state, each particle can provide information about the other, and actions taken on one particle impact the other. Harnessing these properties and behaviours is key to unlocking future possibilities in quantum technology.
Benjamin’s research will focus on how we can build quantum sensors – measurement devices that are “orders of magnitude more precise than anything we have today.” But there are other possibilities, too, including highly secure communication systems guaranteed by the laws of physics and computing that exceeds the ability of any classical computer.
“There are so many applications of quantum technologies in the long run that are going to advance what we can do as a human civilization,” he says.
An ecosystem where ideas thrive
During his master’s, Benjamin started working with a spin-off company from his INRS research group, Ki3 Photonics Technologies, to commercialize some of their solutions: photonics hardware for quantum communication systems.
At Waterloo, he’s able to maintain his relationship with the company and explore other possibilities for commercialization of his intellectual property (IP). That’s thanks to the University’s unique creator-owned IP rules that, unlike many other institutions, allow creators to keep full ownership of their work.
In the future, he’s open to the possibilities of entrepreneurship, leading an industry R&D team or pursuing an academic career. But for now, he’s got plenty to keep him occupied.
Cultivating a shared language at the IQC
While studying in Waterloo’s Department of Physics and Astronomy during his undergrad, Benjamin completed a co-op term at l’Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) in Montreal. He went on to pursue his master’s in physics there, focusing on the study of quantum photonics.
That research left him with more questions than answers. And heading back to Waterloo’s IQC was the perfect way to explore them. As a world-leading hub for the study of quantum information, the IQC is home to world-renowned professors and accomplished teams doing cutting-edge research.
“IQC brings together people from many different areas — physics, chemistry, computer science, math, engineering and more. To me, the most exciting part is that there’s people working in all these niche parts of quantum science, but everyone can talk to each other and collaborate and have this sharing of ideas. The IQC was really built around that cross-pollination between fields.”
Exploring infinite possibilities
There’s no question that quantum physics is a complicated subject to explain, especially when Benjamin is delivering outreach talks to local high school students whose only exposure is through superhero movies.
Quantum physics studies the building blocks of nature, looking at extremely small particles of matter and energy, like electrons and photons, to understand their properties and behaviours. Benjamin says what many people don’t realize is that quantum mechanics are at work in the world around us and in the technologies that we use every day.
“Your computer and all the logic that it’s doing is based off of our fundamental understanding of quantum mechanics. Same with lasers that enable our internet infrastructure and MRIs for visualizing tissue and disease inside the body.”
Building a deeper understanding of the rules of quantum physics and how they interact can open up novel possibilities. That’s what his PhD research aims to do by developing computational techniques to study and design quantum systems. As we begin to have better control of those systems, how can we create specific types of quantum entanglement that can power new technologies?
Quantum entanglement refers to a state in which two or more particles link up and stay linked in a certain way, no matter the distance between them. Simply put, in this unified state, each particle can provide information about the other, and actions taken on one particle impact the other. Harnessing these properties and behaviours is key to unlocking future possibilities in quantum technology.
Benjamin’s research will focus on how we can build quantum sensors – measurement devices that are “orders of magnitude more precise than anything we have today.” But there are other possibilities, too, including highly secure communication systems guaranteed by the laws of physics and computing that exceeds the ability of any classical computer.
“There are so many applications of quantum technologies in the long run that are going to advance what we can do as a human civilization,” he says.
An ecosystem where ideas thrive
During his master’s, Benjamin started working with a spin-off company from his INRS research group, Ki3 Photonics Technologies, to commercialize some of their solutions: photonics hardware for quantum communication systems.
At Waterloo, he’s able to maintain his relationship with the company and explore other possibilities for commercialization of his intellectual property (IP). That’s thanks to the University’s unique creator-owned IP rules that, unlike many other institutions, allow creators to keep full ownership of their work.
In the future, he’s open to the possibilities of entrepreneurship, leading an industry R&D team or pursuing an academic career. But for now, he’s got plenty to keep him occupied.
“I’ve always been fascinated by quantum physics, both the implications and the applications. It’s still mysterious to me — there are so many unknown things to learn and to discover. And, sometimes, it hurts your brain a little.”