Project description
A photonics approach to solving complex mathematical problems
Spin glasses are magnetic materials whose magnetic orientation seems to be fully random as if they are frozen. These materials serve as models for large-scale mathematical problems, for example, in artificial intelligence, logistics and DNA sequencing, that are not easy to solve using current computer technology. The EU-funded BEC-NETWORKS project plans to develop Bose-Einstein condensates from photons by firing multiple laser beams into optical microcavities. This experimental platform will enable researchers to perform ultrafast simulations of classical spin systems and solve the ground-state problem in spin glasses.
Objective
Despite large advances in both algorithms and computer technology, even typical instances of computationally hard problems are too difficult to be solved on today’s computers. Unconventional computational devices that break with the usual paradigms of digital electronic computers can help to overcome these limitations. In this project, a network of coupled photon Bose-Einstein condensates will be developed and used as experimental platform to perform ultrafast simulations of classical spin systems. Specifically, the network will be capable of solving the ground-state problem in spin glasses (disordered magnets). The latter constitutes a well-known combinatorial problem that can be mapped mathematically to many other computationally hard problems in machine learning, logistics, computer chip design and DNA sequencing. In a proof-of-principle experiment, I aim to demonstrate that the proposed spin glass simulator performs this computationally hard optimisation problem significantly faster than any other computer today. I have pioneered the Bose-Einstein condensation of photons in optical microcavities, which has enabled us to investigate this genuine quantum-mechanical effect with all-optical methods. In a recent work of my group, we experimentally demonstrate controllable phase relations between photon Bose-Einstein condensates in an optical microcavity. The investigated device realises an optical analogue of a Josephson junction. Similar to a transistor for electronics, a controllable photonic Josephson junction represents the key component for ultrafast optical spin glass simulation and, thus, is the crucial basis for the proposed project. The BEC-NETWORKS project will be the main research project of my research group at the University of Twente.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNA
- engineering and technologymaterials engineering
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencemachine learning
- natural sciencesphysical sciencescondensed matter physicsbose-einstein condensates
- natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsphotons
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
ERC-COG - Consolidator GrantHost institution
7522 NB Enschede
Netherlands