PhD Candidate · Quantum Optics · Institute for Quantum Computing

Testing the axioms
of quantum mechanics.

Fourth-year PhD at the Institute for Quantum Computing, Waterloo. I use Generalised Probabilistic Theories to map out the space of possible physical theories, then build optical experiments to find out which one nature actually chose.

Tristan Lismer

Research

What I do.

01 / EXPERIMENTAL

Testing Born's Rule

If Born's rule is wrong, every quantum mechanics textbook needs rewriting. I built a 4-slit photonic experiment to measure the Sorkin parameter I₃ and check. So far, quantum mechanics is holding up — but we keep looking.

Quantum Foundations
02 / COMPUTATIONAL

GPT Rank Fitting

Built a cross-validated ALS rank-sweep pipeline from scratch that characterises quantum state spaces directly from experimental data — no assumption about the underlying theory required. The data tells you the rank.

Data Analysis · State Space Theory
03 / THEORETICAL

Epistemic Restrictions in GPTs

Proved a Trichotomy Theorem characterising exactly which Generalised Probabilistic Theories can be understood as theories of limited knowledge. The kind of result you can prove and then design an experiment around.

GPT Framework
04 / EXPERIMENTAL

Interferometer Mastery

HOM, Mach-Zehnder, Sagnac — aligned them all. SNSPDs, APDs, ICCD cameras, Ti:Sapphire at 790 nm. Precision free-space optics is one of those skills that takes years to build and is immediately obvious when someone has it.

Photonics · Optics

Skills

What I bring to the (optical) table.

Optics & Lasers
Ti:Sapphire (790 nm) Sagnac SPDC HOM Interferometer Mach-Zehnder Free-space alignment Phase masks
Detectors & Electronics
SNSPDs APDs ICCD cameras Coincidence counting Timing electronics
Languages
Python LabVIEW Mathematica LaTeX
Libraries & Infrastructure
NumPy / SciPy joblib matplotlib SLURM Compute Canada Git

Personal

Beyond the lab.

226 km
Ironman Finisher

3.8 swim · 180 bike · 42.2 run

Both involve a lot of suffering and a stubborn refusal to stop.

80K
Ultra Runner — in training

Mountain ultra

Because apparently an Ironman wasn't a strong enough signal that I enjoy suffering.

Quantum
Industry
Where I want to go next

Industry Horizon

I want to be in the room where photonic quantum computing gets built commercially.

Timeline

How I got here.

2022 — Present
PhD Candidate · Quantum Optics
Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo
Summer 2020 · 2021 · 2022
Research Scientist (Intern)
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Summer 2019
Research Scientist (Intern)
Natural Resources Canada
2018 — 2022
BScH Astrophysics
Queen's University, Kingston

Contact

Let's talk!

Open to roles in quantum tech

If you're building something in quantum technology and want someone who can do the physics, write the code, and run an ultramarathon before the team standup — reach out. Always happy to talk research too.

tlismer@uwaterloo.ca
"It's the questions we can't answer that teach us the most."
— Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind