Center for Quantum Information

Quantum Information, as an emerging interdisciplinary area of subject in computer science, information science and quantum physics that provides a new technology in the post-Moore era, has explored new fundamentals and methods for the development of information science in the 21st century. Quantum information technology has grown into a focus in strategic competitions among countries. Quantum information science, as the core of quantum control and an interdisciplinary area of information networks and nanoscience, represents one of the key directions for the future development of science and technology in China.

Center for Quantum Information (CQI), Tsinghua University was established on January 6, 2011, and its inauguration ceremony took place at the Lecture Hall, FIT Building, Tsinghua University on January 15, 2011. Led by Prof. Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, world-leading computer scientist, winner of the A.M. Turing Award in 2000, CQI aims to develop a world-class platform for the teaching and research of quantum information in China.

Prof. Yao has made several pioneering contributions among the first few computer scientists in the area of quantum information. His research interests are in theory of computation and its applications to cryptography and quantum computing. Prof. Yao received the 2000 A.M. Turing Award in recognition of his fundamental contributions to the theory of computation, including the complexity-based theory of pseudorandom number generation, cryptography, and communication complexity. He is the first Asian laureate of the Turing Award since its establishment, whose research results have promoted the field of complexity theory and been critical to the development of quantum information. As a leading scientist in network communication complexity theory, Prof. Yao first developed the quantum communication complexity in 1993, which has laid the theoretical foundations for quantum computer. He developed the distributed quantum computation model in 1995, which has evolved into the basics of distributed quantum algorithms and quantum communication protocol security. Prof. Luming Duan, Professor of the University of Michigan and CC Yao Professor at Tsinghua University is in the steering committee of establishing a team on physical implementation of quantum information. Prof. Duan is a young leading figure in this area and his research on physical implementation of quantum networks, quantum computer, long-distance quantum communication and quantum simulation has brought about profound and extensive effects in quantum information.

CQI adopts management methods of top universities and institutions. Its current research interests include genuine quantum networks, quantum computation, quantum simulation, quantum algorithm and complexity theory, and quantum operation. As CQI develops further, its research and cooperation will extend to other fields related to quantum techniques and information security.