Dr Mitchison said: “My research aims to understand how quantum systems are affected by random fluctuations from their environment. A ‘Quantum system’ is anything that is small enough or cold enough to manifest the weird effects synonymous with quantum mechanics – such as superposition and entanglement, where atoms can exist in two places at the same time. Examples include individual trapped atoms or electrical circuits that are cooled down to temperatures close to absolute zero.
“These systems are studied routinely in labs around the world, and I collaborate closely with several experimental physicists who specialise in doing that. Quantum systems could form the components of next-generation computers, sensors, and communication devices, which will allow us to process information faster, more precisely, and more securely.
“Ultimately, these “quantum technologies” could help us tackle global problems such as climate modelling, drug discovery, and cybersecurity – but development of these technologies is difficult. This is because quantum systems are extremely susceptible to external influences, so my research tries to understand how these environmental effects can be mitigated or perhaps even harnessed to beneficial effect. As a theoretical physicist, I mostly do this by formulating mathematical models or experimental proposals, and by solving equations to make predictions that could eventually be tested by my experimentalist friends.
“I am interested in questions at the intersection of thermodynamics – which is the physics of energy, entropy, and information – and metrology, the science of measurement. Questions like: How much energy does a measurement fundamentally cost? Does thermodynamics limit what we can learn about the universe? Apart from the foundational questions, I am interested in developing new computational tools to study quantum systems that are in extreme or chaotic conditions—far from their usual balanced or stable state.