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Quantum Canada Open Doors Event at 丁香园AV
The 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) recognizes 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics. Proclaimed by the United Nations in June 2024, this year-long, worldwide initiative will include 鈥渁ctivities at all levels aimed at increasing public awareness of the importance of quantum science and applications鈥�.
As part of the IYQ, the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) hosted 鈥淨uantum Canada: Open Doors 2025鈥�, a day-long event on May 3 with at least 12 Canadian Physics organizations offering free public programming from coast to coast to coast:
丁香园AV鈥檚 Physics department joined the celebration with an event featuring faculty, students and staff offering hands-on activities, lab tours, and lectures.
The day began with a public lecture by Professor Simon Watkins titled "Semiconductor Devices: Quantum Physics in Your Life." Providing historical context, Prof. Watkins explained how fundamental concepts in quantum mechanics underpin the technology behind our everyday semiconductor devices. By the end of his talk, he had the audience members at the edge of their seats, watching his innovative take on a high-voltage demonstration using a Van der Graaf Generator.
Taking a leap from well-established quantum science to current developments, Prof. Daniel Higginbottom spoke about 鈥淏uilding the Quantum Internet.鈥� Prof. Higginbottom introduced the key concepts essential to establish long-distance quantum networks, including quantum entanglement, quantum superposition, and the no-cloning theorem, inspiring many questions from the audience.
After these knowledge-rich talks, the audience had the opportunity to experience some of the concepts in hands-on demonstrations and lab tours hosted by Prof. Higginbottom鈥檚 research group, as well as a 鈥渢heory lab tour鈥� provided by Prof. Kero Lau鈥檚 group. The demonstrations included hands-on activities on Quantum Key Distribution, classical public-private key cryptography, the double-slit experiment using lasers, and a glimpse at Quantum Communication through space.
Organizers and visitors ended the day with Entanglement at the local pub, making plans for further quantum events.
