Project acronym ALLQUANTUM
Project All-solid-state quantum electrodynamics in photonic crystals
Researcher (PI) Peter Lodahl
Host Institution (HI) KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
Country Denmark
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary In quantum electrodynamics a range of fundamental processes are driven by omnipresent vacuum fluctuations. Photonic crystals can control vacuum fluctuations and thereby the fundamental interaction between light and matter. We will conduct experiments on quantum dots in photonic crystals and observe novel quantum electrodynamics effects including fractional decay and the modified Lamb shift. Furthermore, photonic crystals will be explored for shielding sensitive quantum-superposition states against decoherence.
Defects in photonic crystals allow novel functionalities enabling nanocavities and waveguides. We will use the tight confinement of light in a nanocavity to entangle a quantum dot and a photon, and explore the scalability. Controlled ways of generating scalable and robust quantum entanglement is the essential missing link limiting quantum communication and quantum computing. A single quantum dot coupled to a slowly propagating mode in a photonic crystal waveguide will be used to induce large nonlinearities at the few-photon level.
Finally we will explore a novel route to enhanced light-matter interaction employing controlled disorder in photonic crystals. In disordered media multiple scattering of light takes place and can lead to the formation of Anderson-localized modes. We will explore cavity quantum electrodynamics in Anderson-localized random cavities considering disorder a resource and not a nuisance, which is the traditional view.
The main focus of the project will be on optical experiments, but fabrication of photonic crystals and detailed theory will be carried out as well. Several of the proposed experiments will constitute milestones in quantum optics and may pave the way for all-solid-state quantum communication with quantum dots in photonic crystals.
Summary
In quantum electrodynamics a range of fundamental processes are driven by omnipresent vacuum fluctuations. Photonic crystals can control vacuum fluctuations and thereby the fundamental interaction between light and matter. We will conduct experiments on quantum dots in photonic crystals and observe novel quantum electrodynamics effects including fractional decay and the modified Lamb shift. Furthermore, photonic crystals will be explored for shielding sensitive quantum-superposition states against decoherence.
Defects in photonic crystals allow novel functionalities enabling nanocavities and waveguides. We will use the tight confinement of light in a nanocavity to entangle a quantum dot and a photon, and explore the scalability. Controlled ways of generating scalable and robust quantum entanglement is the essential missing link limiting quantum communication and quantum computing. A single quantum dot coupled to a slowly propagating mode in a photonic crystal waveguide will be used to induce large nonlinearities at the few-photon level.
Finally we will explore a novel route to enhanced light-matter interaction employing controlled disorder in photonic crystals. In disordered media multiple scattering of light takes place and can lead to the formation of Anderson-localized modes. We will explore cavity quantum electrodynamics in Anderson-localized random cavities considering disorder a resource and not a nuisance, which is the traditional view.
The main focus of the project will be on optical experiments, but fabrication of photonic crystals and detailed theory will be carried out as well. Several of the proposed experiments will constitute milestones in quantum optics and may pave the way for all-solid-state quantum communication with quantum dots in photonic crystals.
Max ERC Funding
1 199 648 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-12-01, End date: 2015-11-30
Project acronym AMPLITUDES
Project Manifesting the Simplicity of Scattering Amplitudes
Researcher (PI) Jacob BOURJAILY
Host Institution (HI) KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
Country Denmark
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2017-STG
Summary I propose a program of research that may forever change the way that we understand and use quantum field theory to make predictions for experiment. This will be achieved through the advancement of new, constructive frameworks to determine and represent scattering amplitudes in perturbation theory in terms that depend only on observable quantities, make manifest (all) the symmetries of the theory, and which can be efficiently evaluated while minimally spoiling the underlying simplicity of predictions. My research has already led to the discovery and development of several approaches of this kind.
This proposal describes the specific steps required to extend these ideas to more general theories and to higher orders of perturbation theory. Specifically, the plan of research I propose consists of three concrete goals: to fully characterize the discontinuities of loop amplitudes (`on-shell functions') for a broad class of theories; to develop powerful new representations of loop amplitude {\it integrands}, making manifest as much simplicity as possible; and to develop new techniques for loop amplitude {integration} that are compatible with and preserve the symmetries of observable quantities.
Progress toward any one of these objectives would have important theoretical implications and valuable practical applications. In combination, this proposal has the potential to significantly advance the state of the art for both our theoretical understanding and our computational reach for making predictions for experiment.
To achieve these goals, I will pursue a data-driven, `phenomenological' approach—involving the construction of new computational tools, developed in pursuit of concrete computational targets. For this work, my suitability and expertise is amply demonstrated by my research. I have not only played a key role in many of the most important theoretical developments in the past decade, but I have personally built the most powerful computational tools for their
Summary
I propose a program of research that may forever change the way that we understand and use quantum field theory to make predictions for experiment. This will be achieved through the advancement of new, constructive frameworks to determine and represent scattering amplitudes in perturbation theory in terms that depend only on observable quantities, make manifest (all) the symmetries of the theory, and which can be efficiently evaluated while minimally spoiling the underlying simplicity of predictions. My research has already led to the discovery and development of several approaches of this kind.
This proposal describes the specific steps required to extend these ideas to more general theories and to higher orders of perturbation theory. Specifically, the plan of research I propose consists of three concrete goals: to fully characterize the discontinuities of loop amplitudes (`on-shell functions') for a broad class of theories; to develop powerful new representations of loop amplitude {\it integrands}, making manifest as much simplicity as possible; and to develop new techniques for loop amplitude {integration} that are compatible with and preserve the symmetries of observable quantities.
Progress toward any one of these objectives would have important theoretical implications and valuable practical applications. In combination, this proposal has the potential to significantly advance the state of the art for both our theoretical understanding and our computational reach for making predictions for experiment.
To achieve these goals, I will pursue a data-driven, `phenomenological' approach—involving the construction of new computational tools, developed in pursuit of concrete computational targets. For this work, my suitability and expertise is amply demonstrated by my research. I have not only played a key role in many of the most important theoretical developments in the past decade, but I have personally built the most powerful computational tools for their
Max ERC Funding
1 499 695 €
Duration
Start date: 2018-02-01, End date: 2023-01-31
Project acronym DropletControl
Project Controlling the orientation of molecules inside liquid helium nanodroplets
Researcher (PI) Henrik Stapelfeldt
Host Institution (HI) AARHUS UNIVERSITET
Country Denmark
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2012-ADG_20120216
Summary In this project I will develop and exploit experimental methods, based on short and intense laser pulses, to control the spatial orientation of molecules dissolved in liquid helium nanodroplets. This idea is, so far, completely unexplored but it has the potential to open a multitude of new opportunities in physics and chemistry. The main objectives are:
1) Complete control and real time monitoring of molecular rotation inside liquid helium droplets, exploring superfluidity of the droplets, the possible formation of quantum vortices, and rotational dephasing due to interaction of the dissolved molecules with the He solvent.
2) Ultrafast imaging of molecules undergoing chemical reaction dynamics inside liquid helium droplets, exploring rapid energy dissipation from reacting molecules to the helium solvent, transition between mirror forms of chiral molecules, strong laser field processes in He-solvated molecules, and structure determination of non crystalizable proteins by electron or x-ray diffraction.
I will achieve the objectives by combining liquid helium droplet technology, ultrafast laser pulse methods and advanced electron and ion imaging detection. The experiments will both rely on existing apparatus in my laboratories and on new vacuum and laser equipment to be set up during the project.
The ability to control how molecules are turned in space is of fundamental importance because interactions of molecules with other molecules, atoms or radiation depend on their spatial orientation. For isolated molecules in the gas phase laser based methods, developed over the past 12 years, now enable very refined and precise control over the spatial orientation of molecules. By contrast, orientational control of molecules in solution has not been demonstrated despite the potential of being able to do so is enormous, notably because most chemistry occurs in a solvent rather than in a gas of isolated molecules.
Summary
In this project I will develop and exploit experimental methods, based on short and intense laser pulses, to control the spatial orientation of molecules dissolved in liquid helium nanodroplets. This idea is, so far, completely unexplored but it has the potential to open a multitude of new opportunities in physics and chemistry. The main objectives are:
1) Complete control and real time monitoring of molecular rotation inside liquid helium droplets, exploring superfluidity of the droplets, the possible formation of quantum vortices, and rotational dephasing due to interaction of the dissolved molecules with the He solvent.
2) Ultrafast imaging of molecules undergoing chemical reaction dynamics inside liquid helium droplets, exploring rapid energy dissipation from reacting molecules to the helium solvent, transition between mirror forms of chiral molecules, strong laser field processes in He-solvated molecules, and structure determination of non crystalizable proteins by electron or x-ray diffraction.
I will achieve the objectives by combining liquid helium droplet technology, ultrafast laser pulse methods and advanced electron and ion imaging detection. The experiments will both rely on existing apparatus in my laboratories and on new vacuum and laser equipment to be set up during the project.
The ability to control how molecules are turned in space is of fundamental importance because interactions of molecules with other molecules, atoms or radiation depend on their spatial orientation. For isolated molecules in the gas phase laser based methods, developed over the past 12 years, now enable very refined and precise control over the spatial orientation of molecules. By contrast, orientational control of molecules in solution has not been demonstrated despite the potential of being able to do so is enormous, notably because most chemistry occurs in a solvent rather than in a gas of isolated molecules.
Max ERC Funding
2 409 773 €
Duration
Start date: 2013-05-01, End date: 2018-04-30
Project acronym EQU
Project Exploring the Quantum Universe
Researcher (PI) Jan Ambjoern
Host Institution (HI) KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
Country Denmark
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2011-ADG_20110209
Summary "One of the main unsolved problems in theoretical physics today is to reconcile the theories of general relativity and quantum mechanics. The starting point of this proposal is a new background-independent theory of quantum gravity, which has been constructed from first principles as a sum over space-time histories and has already passed its first non-trivial tests. The theory can be investigated analytically as well as by Monte Carlo simulations. The aim is to verify that it is a viable theory of quantum gravity. Thus we want to show that it has the correct long-distance behaviour (classical Einstein gravity) and to investigate its short-distance behaviour in detail. We expect new physics to show up at the shortest distances, physics which might help us understand the origin of our universe and why the universe looks the way we observe today."
Summary
"One of the main unsolved problems in theoretical physics today is to reconcile the theories of general relativity and quantum mechanics. The starting point of this proposal is a new background-independent theory of quantum gravity, which has been constructed from first principles as a sum over space-time histories and has already passed its first non-trivial tests. The theory can be investigated analytically as well as by Monte Carlo simulations. The aim is to verify that it is a viable theory of quantum gravity. Thus we want to show that it has the correct long-distance behaviour (classical Einstein gravity) and to investigate its short-distance behaviour in detail. We expect new physics to show up at the shortest distances, physics which might help us understand the origin of our universe and why the universe looks the way we observe today."
Max ERC Funding
2 187 286 €
Duration
Start date: 2012-07-01, End date: 2017-06-30
Project acronym HBAR12
Project Spectroscopy of Trapped Antihydrogen
Researcher (PI) Jeffrey Scott Hangst
Host Institution (HI) AARHUS UNIVERSITET
Country Denmark
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2012-ADG_20120216
Summary Antihydrogen is the only stable, neutral antimatter system available for laboratory study. Recently, the ALPHA Collaboration at CERN has succeeded in synthesizing and trapping antihydrogen atoms, storing them for up to 1000 s, and performing the first resonant spectroscopy, using microwaves, on trapped antihydrogen. This last, historic result paves the way for precision microwave and laser spectroscopic measurements using small numbers of trapped antihydrogen atoms. Because of the breakthroughs made in our collaboration, it is now possible, for the first time, to design antimatter spectroscopic experiments that have achievable milestones of precision. These measurements require a next-generation apparatus, known as ALPHA-2, which is the subject of this proposal. The items sought are hardware components and radiation sources to help us to test CPT (charge conjugation, parity, time reversal) symmetry invariance by comparing the spectrum of antihydrogen to that of hydrogen. More generally, we will address the very fundamental question: do matter and antimatter obey the same laws of physics? The Standard Model says that they must, but mystery continues to cloud our understanding of antimatter - as evidenced by the unexplained baryon asymmetry in the universe. ALPHA's experiments offer a unique, high precision, model-independent view into the internal workings of antimatter.
Summary
Antihydrogen is the only stable, neutral antimatter system available for laboratory study. Recently, the ALPHA Collaboration at CERN has succeeded in synthesizing and trapping antihydrogen atoms, storing them for up to 1000 s, and performing the first resonant spectroscopy, using microwaves, on trapped antihydrogen. This last, historic result paves the way for precision microwave and laser spectroscopic measurements using small numbers of trapped antihydrogen atoms. Because of the breakthroughs made in our collaboration, it is now possible, for the first time, to design antimatter spectroscopic experiments that have achievable milestones of precision. These measurements require a next-generation apparatus, known as ALPHA-2, which is the subject of this proposal. The items sought are hardware components and radiation sources to help us to test CPT (charge conjugation, parity, time reversal) symmetry invariance by comparing the spectrum of antihydrogen to that of hydrogen. More generally, we will address the very fundamental question: do matter and antimatter obey the same laws of physics? The Standard Model says that they must, but mystery continues to cloud our understanding of antimatter - as evidenced by the unexplained baryon asymmetry in the universe. ALPHA's experiments offer a unique, high precision, model-independent view into the internal workings of antimatter.
Max ERC Funding
2 136 888 €
Duration
Start date: 2013-05-01, End date: 2018-12-31
Project acronym Interface
Project Quantum Optical Interfaces for Atoms and Nano-electro-mechanical Systems
Researcher (PI) Eugene Polzik
Host Institution (HI) KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
Country Denmark
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2011-ADG_20110209
Summary Quantum interfaces capable of transferring quantum states and generating entanglement between fields and matter are set to play a growing role in the development of science and technology. Development of such interfaces has been a crucial component in quantum information processing and communication. In the past decade quantum interfaces between atoms and optical photons have been extensively explored by a number of leading groups. Quantum state transfer between light and atoms, such as quantum memory and quantum teleportation, entanglement of massive objects, as well as measurements and sensing beyond standard quantum limits have been demonstrated by the group of the PI.
We propose to develop a robust, integrated and scalable atom-light interface and to incorporate it into a hybrid multi-facet quantum network with other relevant quantum systems, such as nano-mechanical oscillators and electronic circuits.
Towards this ambitious goal we will develop room temperature atomic quantum memories in spin protecting micro-cells (mu-cells) and opto-mechanical and electromechanical strongly coupled systems. Interfacing atoms, electronic circuits and nano-mechanical oscillators we will perform ultrasensitive quantum limited field and force measurements and quantum teleportation of states across the range of these systems.
In the fundamental sense, this research program will further broaden the horizons of quantum physics and quantum information processing by expanding it into new and unexplored macroscopic domains.
Summary
Quantum interfaces capable of transferring quantum states and generating entanglement between fields and matter are set to play a growing role in the development of science and technology. Development of such interfaces has been a crucial component in quantum information processing and communication. In the past decade quantum interfaces between atoms and optical photons have been extensively explored by a number of leading groups. Quantum state transfer between light and atoms, such as quantum memory and quantum teleportation, entanglement of massive objects, as well as measurements and sensing beyond standard quantum limits have been demonstrated by the group of the PI.
We propose to develop a robust, integrated and scalable atom-light interface and to incorporate it into a hybrid multi-facet quantum network with other relevant quantum systems, such as nano-mechanical oscillators and electronic circuits.
Towards this ambitious goal we will develop room temperature atomic quantum memories in spin protecting micro-cells (mu-cells) and opto-mechanical and electromechanical strongly coupled systems. Interfacing atoms, electronic circuits and nano-mechanical oscillators we will perform ultrasensitive quantum limited field and force measurements and quantum teleportation of states across the range of these systems.
In the fundamental sense, this research program will further broaden the horizons of quantum physics and quantum information processing by expanding it into new and unexplored macroscopic domains.
Max ERC Funding
2 493 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2012-07-01, End date: 2017-06-30
Project acronym LOBENA
Project Long Beamtime Experiments for Nuclear Astrophysics
Researcher (PI) Hans Otto Uldall Fynbo
Host Institution (HI) AARHUS UNIVERSITET
Country Denmark
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2012-StG_20111012
Summary The goal of LOBENA is to measure key properties needed for understanding nuclear processes in the Cosmos. Nuclear Astrophysics plays a key role in our quest to understand the origin and distribution of the chemical elements in our galaxy. Nuclear processes are crucial for understanding the energy production in the universe and are essential for describing the creation of chemical elements from the ashes of the Big Bang. Uncertainties in the nuclear physics can therefore influence our understanding of many astrophysical processes, both those involving stable stellar burning phases and explosive phenomena such as X-ray bursts, gamma-ray bursts and supernovae.
In LOBENA (LOng Beamtime Experiments for Nuclear Astrophysics) I will initiate a series of studies in Nuclear Astrophysics, which have in common the need for long beam times and the use of complete kinematics detection of several particles emitted in reactions. The core of the project will focus on the systems 8Be, 12C and 16O where today key open questions of great importance remain to answered. These questions can be addressed by reactions induced by low energy (<5MeV) beams of protons and 3He on light targets such as 6,7Li, 9Be, 10,11B and 19F using a newly developed complete kinematics detection procedure. The department of Physics and Astronomy in Aarhus provides a unique scene for doing these measurements since it provides accelerators where long beam time can be guarantied. LOBENA will also include complimentary experiments at international user facilities such as ISOLDE (CERN), KVI (Groningen), JYFL and (Jyväskylä).
With this ERC starting grant proposal I wish to start up my own group around Nuclear Astrophysics experiments in house and at international user facilities. With two Post Doc.s and a Ph.D. I will be much better able to fully exploit the scientific potential of the proposed research, which will also help to consolidate my own research career and give me more independence.
Summary
The goal of LOBENA is to measure key properties needed for understanding nuclear processes in the Cosmos. Nuclear Astrophysics plays a key role in our quest to understand the origin and distribution of the chemical elements in our galaxy. Nuclear processes are crucial for understanding the energy production in the universe and are essential for describing the creation of chemical elements from the ashes of the Big Bang. Uncertainties in the nuclear physics can therefore influence our understanding of many astrophysical processes, both those involving stable stellar burning phases and explosive phenomena such as X-ray bursts, gamma-ray bursts and supernovae.
In LOBENA (LOng Beamtime Experiments for Nuclear Astrophysics) I will initiate a series of studies in Nuclear Astrophysics, which have in common the need for long beam times and the use of complete kinematics detection of several particles emitted in reactions. The core of the project will focus on the systems 8Be, 12C and 16O where today key open questions of great importance remain to answered. These questions can be addressed by reactions induced by low energy (<5MeV) beams of protons and 3He on light targets such as 6,7Li, 9Be, 10,11B and 19F using a newly developed complete kinematics detection procedure. The department of Physics and Astronomy in Aarhus provides a unique scene for doing these measurements since it provides accelerators where long beam time can be guarantied. LOBENA will also include complimentary experiments at international user facilities such as ISOLDE (CERN), KVI (Groningen), JYFL and (Jyväskylä).
With this ERC starting grant proposal I wish to start up my own group around Nuclear Astrophysics experiments in house and at international user facilities. With two Post Doc.s and a Ph.D. I will be much better able to fully exploit the scientific potential of the proposed research, which will also help to consolidate my own research career and give me more independence.
Max ERC Funding
1 476 075 €
Duration
Start date: 2012-11-01, End date: 2018-10-31
Project acronym MECTRL
Project Measurement-based dynamic control of mesoscopic many-body systems
Researcher (PI) Jacob Friis Sherson
Host Institution (HI) AARHUS UNIVERSITET
Country Denmark
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2014-STG
Summary Quantum control is an ambitious framework for steering dynamics from initial states to arbitrary desired final states. It has over the past decade been used extensively with immense success for control of low- dimensional systems in as varied fields as molecular dynamics and quantum computation. Only recently have efforts been initiated to extend this to higher-dimensional many-body systems. Most generic quantum control schemes to date, however, put quite heavy requirements on the controllability of either the system Hamiltonian or a set of measurement operators. This will in many realistic scenarios prohibit an efficient realization.
Within this proposal, I will develop a new quantum control scheme, which is minimalistic on system requirements and therefore ideally suited for the efficient and reliable optimization of many-body control problems. The fundamentally new ingredient is the total quantum evolution dictated by a combination of fixed many-body time evolution and the precise knowledge of the quantum back-action due to repeated quantum non-destruction (QND) measurements of a single projection operator.
The main focus of this proposal is theoretical and experimental quantum engineering of the dynamics in systems, which are sufficiently small to calculate the measurement back-action exactly and sufficiently large to have interesting many-body properties.
Recent experimental advances in single site manipulation of bosons in optical lattices have enabled the high fidelity preparation exactly such mesoscopic samples of atoms (5-50). This forms an ideal starting point for many-body quantum control, and we will i.a. demonstrate engineering of quantum phase transitions and preparation of highly non-classical Schödinger cat states.
Finally, using the results from an online graphical interface allowing users of the internet to solve quantum problems we will attempt to build next-generation optimization computer algorithms with a higher level of cognition built in.
Summary
Quantum control is an ambitious framework for steering dynamics from initial states to arbitrary desired final states. It has over the past decade been used extensively with immense success for control of low- dimensional systems in as varied fields as molecular dynamics and quantum computation. Only recently have efforts been initiated to extend this to higher-dimensional many-body systems. Most generic quantum control schemes to date, however, put quite heavy requirements on the controllability of either the system Hamiltonian or a set of measurement operators. This will in many realistic scenarios prohibit an efficient realization.
Within this proposal, I will develop a new quantum control scheme, which is minimalistic on system requirements and therefore ideally suited for the efficient and reliable optimization of many-body control problems. The fundamentally new ingredient is the total quantum evolution dictated by a combination of fixed many-body time evolution and the precise knowledge of the quantum back-action due to repeated quantum non-destruction (QND) measurements of a single projection operator.
The main focus of this proposal is theoretical and experimental quantum engineering of the dynamics in systems, which are sufficiently small to calculate the measurement back-action exactly and sufficiently large to have interesting many-body properties.
Recent experimental advances in single site manipulation of bosons in optical lattices have enabled the high fidelity preparation exactly such mesoscopic samples of atoms (5-50). This forms an ideal starting point for many-body quantum control, and we will i.a. demonstrate engineering of quantum phase transitions and preparation of highly non-classical Schödinger cat states.
Finally, using the results from an online graphical interface allowing users of the internet to solve quantum problems we will attempt to build next-generation optimization computer algorithms with a higher level of cognition built in.
Max ERC Funding
1 499 406 €
Duration
Start date: 2015-05-01, End date: 2020-04-30
Project acronym NANOMEQ
Project Nano-mechanical quantum photonic circuits
Researcher (PI) Leonardo Midolo
Host Institution (HI) KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
Country Denmark
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2020-STG
Summary Photons are essential for transmitting quantum information and for building entangled system on a global scale. Recent developments in photonic quantum technologies provide the fundamental tools for generating and manipulating photons within a chip. Yet, performing large-scale experiments, involving many quantum bits (or qubits), remains a major challenge due to the lack of a method to incorporate and control many sources of identical photons in the same chip. With an efficient strategy to control quantum photonic circuits, single-photon sources, and multi-photon entanglement, a fully-integrated platform for quantum information processing with many qubits and logical gates, can be built.
In this project, I intend to merge two flourishing fields of research, opto-mechanics and deterministic photon-emitter interfaces, in order to achieve active control of quantum circuits and to realize large-scale nano-mechanical quantum photonic circuits. Unparalleled by other methods, nano-mechanical systems enable full control over light propagation in optical circuits with exceedingly low loss and noise, which makes them fully compatible with single-photon emitters.
The main highlights of NANOMEQ are to:
1. Build the world’s smallest and most efficient photonic quantum gate.
2. Control light-matter interaction to efficiently extract, in a scalable fashion, many high-fidelity photonic qubits from a deterministic single-photon source.
3. Perform on-chip frequency conversion to telecom wavelengths for long-distance communication.
These achievements will be milestones in quantum photonics and, by addressing outstanding challenges in the field, will pave the way for scaling-up deterministic photon-emitter interfaces for advanced quantum-information processing and beyond.
Summary
Photons are essential for transmitting quantum information and for building entangled system on a global scale. Recent developments in photonic quantum technologies provide the fundamental tools for generating and manipulating photons within a chip. Yet, performing large-scale experiments, involving many quantum bits (or qubits), remains a major challenge due to the lack of a method to incorporate and control many sources of identical photons in the same chip. With an efficient strategy to control quantum photonic circuits, single-photon sources, and multi-photon entanglement, a fully-integrated platform for quantum information processing with many qubits and logical gates, can be built.
In this project, I intend to merge two flourishing fields of research, opto-mechanics and deterministic photon-emitter interfaces, in order to achieve active control of quantum circuits and to realize large-scale nano-mechanical quantum photonic circuits. Unparalleled by other methods, nano-mechanical systems enable full control over light propagation in optical circuits with exceedingly low loss and noise, which makes them fully compatible with single-photon emitters.
The main highlights of NANOMEQ are to:
1. Build the world’s smallest and most efficient photonic quantum gate.
2. Control light-matter interaction to efficiently extract, in a scalable fashion, many high-fidelity photonic qubits from a deterministic single-photon source.
3. Perform on-chip frequency conversion to telecom wavelengths for long-distance communication.
These achievements will be milestones in quantum photonics and, by addressing outstanding challenges in the field, will pave the way for scaling-up deterministic photon-emitter interfaces for advanced quantum-information processing and beyond.
Max ERC Funding
1 485 362 €
Duration
Start date: 2021-01-01, End date: 2025-12-31
Project acronym PHOQS
Project Phononic Quantum Sensors
Researcher (PI) Albert Schliesser
Host Institution (HI) KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
Country Denmark
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE2, ERC-2020-COG
Summary In this project, we will develop mechanical systems of unprecedented coherence under full optomechanical quantum control. At the same time, these systems provide a versatile and practical platform for force measurements and sensing. This novel and unique combination generates a host of opportunities in science and technology, ranging from fundamental tests of quantum decoherence and highly non-classical mechanical sensor states, to new kinds of mechanical quantum transducers.
These advances will be enabled by recent pioneering work of my group in the area of phononic engineering, that is, tailoring the phononic density of states in periodic geometries. In combination with state-of-the-art cryogenic refrigeration, we will achieve coherence times of mechanical quantum states at the level of one second, challenging existing models for mechanical state collapse. We will implement cavity-optomechanical interfaces to these systems which operate deeply in the quantum regime, and by themselves find applications as narrow, noiseless filters sought-after for gravity wave detectors. Furthermore, we will harness purely mechanical parametric interactions as a new resource. This allows noiseless gain immediately in the sensing device, and the preparation of highly nonclassical sensor states, such as strongly squeezed and entangled states. To demonstrate the sensing capabilities of this platform, we will functionalize it magnetically, and perform real-time measurements of single electron spins. We will resolve the split of the mechanical wavefunction as it interacts with a spin in a superposition state, and eventually prepare mechanical Schrödinger cat states, never generated before with a massive, millimetre-sized object visible to the naked eye. At a practical level, this project catalyses the experimental convergence of spin sensing and quantum optomechanics, with synergistic effects both for magnetic resonance imaging at the molecular scale and spin-based quantum networks.
Summary
In this project, we will develop mechanical systems of unprecedented coherence under full optomechanical quantum control. At the same time, these systems provide a versatile and practical platform for force measurements and sensing. This novel and unique combination generates a host of opportunities in science and technology, ranging from fundamental tests of quantum decoherence and highly non-classical mechanical sensor states, to new kinds of mechanical quantum transducers.
These advances will be enabled by recent pioneering work of my group in the area of phononic engineering, that is, tailoring the phononic density of states in periodic geometries. In combination with state-of-the-art cryogenic refrigeration, we will achieve coherence times of mechanical quantum states at the level of one second, challenging existing models for mechanical state collapse. We will implement cavity-optomechanical interfaces to these systems which operate deeply in the quantum regime, and by themselves find applications as narrow, noiseless filters sought-after for gravity wave detectors. Furthermore, we will harness purely mechanical parametric interactions as a new resource. This allows noiseless gain immediately in the sensing device, and the preparation of highly nonclassical sensor states, such as strongly squeezed and entangled states. To demonstrate the sensing capabilities of this platform, we will functionalize it magnetically, and perform real-time measurements of single electron spins. We will resolve the split of the mechanical wavefunction as it interacts with a spin in a superposition state, and eventually prepare mechanical Schrödinger cat states, never generated before with a massive, millimetre-sized object visible to the naked eye. At a practical level, this project catalyses the experimental convergence of spin sensing and quantum optomechanics, with synergistic effects both for magnetic resonance imaging at the molecular scale and spin-based quantum networks.
Max ERC Funding
1 976 164 €
Duration
Start date: 2021-07-01, End date: 2026-06-30
