The Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) and the Centre de recherches mathématiques (CRM) are pleased to announce that the 2017 CAP-CRM Prize in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics is awarded to Raymond Laflamme, Institute for Quantum Computing/University of Waterloo, for his ground-breaking contributions on quantum information.

Raymond Laflamme completed his PhD on aspects of general relativity and quantum cosmology in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) under the direction of Professor Stephen Hawking at the University of Cambridge. From 1992-2001, Dr. Laflamme worked as a research scientist at Los Alamos Research Laboratory, where his interests shifted from cosmology to quantum computing. His work in this new area has focused on how to make quantum information processors more feasible.

Since the mid-1990’s, he has developed theoretical approaches to quantum error correction, and has given experimental demonstrations of these techniques. In collaboration with Emmanuel Knill, Dr. Laflamme gave conditions for quantum error correcting codes, and established the fault-tolerance threshold, thereby showing that quantum computing systems could be practically useful. He went on to perform the first experimental demonstration of quantum error correction. Dr. Laflamme has also devised and implemented new methods to make quantum information robust against corruption in both cryptographic and computational settings. With colleagues, he has developed a blueprint for a quantum information processor using readily available linear optic components rather than exotic non-linear devices. This work was recognized as one of the most influential achievements in quantum information in the period 2001-2009.

Dr. Laflamme holds the Canada Research Chair in Quantum Information and has authored or co-authored over 170 academic papers. He also co-authored a book, Introduction to Quantum Computing, with Michele Mosca and Philip Kaye in 2006. Dr. Laflamme founded the Institute for Quantum Computing in 2002 and has been its Executive Director since its inception.

The annual CAP-CRM Prize in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics was first introduced in 1995.

Dr. Laflamme will be presented with his medal at the Recognition Reception at Queen's University on Thursday, June 1, 2017. The Awards Reception is the closing event of the CAP Congress hosted by Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, from May 29-June 1. Please refer to the Congress program for the schedule of plenary talks by CAP medal winners.

ABOUT the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP)

The Canadian Association of Physicists, founded in 1945, is a professional association representing over 1600 individual physicists and physics students in Canada, the U.S. and overseas, as well as a number of Corporate, Institutional, and Departmental Members. In addition to its learned activities, the CAP, through its charitable arm - the CAP Foundation, also undertakes a number of activities intended to encourage students to pursue a career in physics.

ABOUT the Centre de recherches mathématiques (CRM)

The Centre de recherches mathématiques (CRM), based in Montréal, is an internationally recognized institute for research in the mathematical sciences. The CRM has research groups in 13 areas that bring together hundreds of researchers. Every year, thousands of researchers from around the world visit the CRM to participate in its thematic programmes and other research, education, outreach, innovation and knowledge transfer activities.