Pacific Quantum Systems
Pacific Quantum Systems is a research initiative based in Vancouver, British Columbia, focused on the mathematical and computational structures that connect quantum foundations to practical quantum technologies.
Our work spans three interconnected domains: the algebraic classification of quantum contextuality (understanding why quantum mechanics enables advantages over classical systems), post-quantum cryptography (building defences against quantum attacks), and quantum communications (deploying physics-based security for network infrastructure).
Michael Kernaghan
Michael Kernaghan is an independent researcher with a background in quantum foundations dating to the 1990s. His early work on Kochen-Specker sets produced landmark results that remain widely cited in the contextuality literature:
- The 20-vector KS set (1994) — the first proof that 20 vectors suffice for a Kochen-Specker contradiction in four dimensions, published in Journal of Physics A.
- The Kernaghan-Peres 40-vector construction (1995) — a KS set in eight dimensions (three qubits) that connects directly to GHZ paradoxes, published in Physics Letters A with Asher Peres.
Current work extends these foundations into computational algebraic number theory, classifying for the first time which algebraic rings support Kochen-Specker constructions in dimension three.
Selected Publications
| Year | Publication | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | The Algebraic Landscape of Kochen-Specker Sets in Dimension Three | In preparation (PRA) |
| 2026 | New KS Sets from Algebraic Number Fields with Enhanced Contextual Advantage | In preparation (PRL) |
| 2026 | Graph Universality of CK-31 and the Norm-2 Boundary | In preparation (PRL) |
| 1995 | Kochen-Specker theorem for eight-dimensional space | Phys. Lett. A 198, 1–5 |
| 1994 | Bell-Kochen-Specker theorem for 20 vectors | J. Phys. A 27, L829 |
Research Approach
Our methodology combines:
- Computational exploration: Systematic search and classification using SAT solvers, graph algorithms, and algebraic number theory
- Mathematical proof: Rigorous verification of computational discoveries
- Applied context: Connecting foundational results to practical quantum technologies
All computational work uses reproducible methods with fixed random seeds, and results are verified independently using multiple algorithmic approaches (SAT, integer linear programming, direct enumeration).
Location
Based in Vancouver, British Columbia — at the centre of Canada's Pacific quantum technology corridor, home to Photonic Inc., TELUS quantum communications initiatives, and SFU's Quantum Internet Systems Lab.
Contact
For research inquiries, collaboration proposals, or questions about our work, please reach out via the channels below.
- GitHub: github.com/michaelkernaghan