The revolutionary solutions offered by quantum computing are under the spotlight as Griffith’s Dr Erik Streed is named in the 2011 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Awards
Dr Erik Streed is a researcher at Griffith University’s Centre for Quantum Dynamics and a lecturer at its School of Biomolecular and Physical Sciences.
His work focuses on quantum computing and enhancing the optics used to look at
single atoms.
One of eight young researchers and communicators to receive the award, Dr
Streed said the development of quantum computing is expected to solve challenging problems in secure communication, database searching, and model chemical reactions that far exceed the capacity of conventional computers.
He referred to a world-first study conducted at Griffith earlier this year which showed how quantum computing processors’ speed and accuracy can increase with the help of lighthouse style lenses.
“Single atoms are at best less than a trillionth the brightness of a lightbulb,” said
Dr Streed. “I use segmented lenses similar in design to those in lighthouses to capture a large amount of this dim light. Instead of crafting one lens at a time, I can have many tiny lenses fabricated at the same time using processes similar to those used in making computer chips.”
Dr Streed has recently commenced a lectureship in physics on Griffith’s Gold Coast campus. He is a founding member of the Joint Laboratory for Quantum Molecular Biophysics, a collaboration between the Centre for Quantum Dynamics and the Institute for Glycomics.