Showcase archive

Browse our archive for more work from our quantum experts.

2023 at a glance

  •  and the Quantum Systems and Devices group hosted the INSTA QT annual international workshop on 12 December, on the theme 'Battery monitoring for carbon reduction'.  works with research partners across 12 countries to establish Global Virtual Workshops to tackle specific global challenges: poverty, zero hunger; good health and wellbeing; climate action; clean water and sanitation and sustainable cities and communities.
  • How does a quantum computer work, and how will they change the world?  explains to  how the background lies in quantum mechanics, and why the world will benefit from this new approach to computation. Prof. Hensinger also features on BBC Radio 4 , explaining his group's recent quantum computing breakthrough (go to 15:40).
  • On 14 July, we were proud to host the annual  workshop. Bringing together 30 colleagues from ßÏßÏÊÓƵ, Imperial, NPL, Birmingham and beyond, for a day of talks, poster presentations and networking.
  • The ßÏßÏÊÓƵ's "Summer of Research" provided Dr Sam Hile with an opportunity to showcase the research of the Ion Quantum Technology group. His talk  explores why quantum computers are so difficult to build.
  • Our Quantum Systems and Devices group were well represented at this year's , hosted by ICFO in Barcelona. Poppy Joshi, Tasha Beirrum and Leigh Thomas Page presented respectively: 'Developing a Bose-Einstein condensate microscope'; ‘Radio-frequency dressing of Bose-Einstein condensates for investigating quantum phase’; and 'A new system to automatically characterise alkali vapour-cells'.

  • The Ion Quantum Technology group welcomed the BBC’s Technology Editor, Zoe Kleinman, into their labs. The visit and an interview with  feature in a programme from , where he reveals how his childhood ambitions have shaped his research (go to 14:27).

  • In March we participated in the British Ion Trap Conference BrIT-C 2023 in Teddington. Ryan Willetts of our  won the runner up prize for best oral presentation with his talk The Geonium Chip Penning Trap: a novel ion trap quantum technology.
  • We start the year with a paper from the Ion Quantum Technology group published by Nature Communications, led by Dr Mariam Akhtar: . The researchers demonstrate for the first time that quantum bits can directly transfer between quantum computer microchips with record-breaking speed and accuracy. The paper has been selected to represent one of the best recently published examples of quantum research in 

2022 at a glance

  •  of our Ion Trap Cavity-QED and Molecular Physics group has an article published in Contemporary Physics titled .
  • Physicists from ßÏßÏÊÓƵ spin-out company, Universal Quantum, have secured a record-breaking investment from the German government to build a truly scalable trapped ion quantum computer within the next four years. Read more about  and 's achievement, here.
  • The ßÏßÏÊÓƵ Research with Impact seminar series ran a webinar focusing on quantum technology research at the University. Several of our staff and PhD students were invited to explain how research undertaken at the Centre is impacting wider technological advances. Watch the recording here. 
  • In October,  offered an inspiring speech to launch the Mid ßÏßÏÊÓƵ STEM challenge, as reported  in ßÏßÏÊÓƵ World. The next generation of engineers will research and create a remote-controlled vehicle that can navigate an obstacle course at the South of England showground.
  •  of our  has been awarded a share of UKRI funding worth £6m. The grant of £500,000 for 2-3 years will be funded by STFC via the call Developing Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics. Read about his goal to develop a quantum microwave sensor capable of measuring the absolute mass of the neutrino particle in 

  • A paper published in Nature by Prof. Alessia Pasquazi and her team includes research carried out by EPic Lab at ßÏßÏÊÓƵ:  details how the group have overcome a major obstacle in producing a portable atomic clock. Read more about this story .

  • Members of our EPic Lab attended the  in Maastricht in July to present a range of their research: 'Frequency control of Laser Cavity Solitons for metrological applications' (Antonio Cutrona), 'Terahertz 3D micro-tomography via time-resolved nonlinear ghost imaging' (Dr Luana Olivieri), 'Deterministic Terahertz wave control in complex media' (Vivek Kumar), and 'Spatiotemporal superfocusing of ultrafast Terahertz waves in complex media' (Vittorio Cecconi).
  • The Ion Quantum Technology group present some of the quantum control methods used for dealing with noise for trapped ions with a focus on static magnetic field gradients and microwaves approaches. Read more in their paper 
  • , featured on  explaining why the UK is leading in the development of quantum computing, with applications ranging from the pharmaceutical and financial sectors, to fertiliser production (go to 2:50).
  • Physicists in the Quantum Systems and Devices group led by  have used magnetic imaging for assessing electric vehicle batteries, detailed in this published peer reviewed  in the Journal of Power Sources. With this new technology, the researchers can visualise the inside workings of an electric vehicle battery.
  • Colleagues from the EPic Lab had the opportunity to attend the  3 - 7 April, and present their project on developing a Virtual Optical Effect (VOE) application.
  • Our ßÏßÏÊÓƵ Quantum physicists were delighted to welcome Mims Davies, Employment Minister, to campus in April. She learned about the pioneering research taking place in our labs, as well as the potential to create a new "quantum Silicon Valley" in her Mid ßÏßÏÊÓƵ constituency.
  • Foni Lebrun-Gallagher and colleagues in the Ion Quantum Technology group publish their paper  in IoP Science.
  • Imagine being able to remotely monitor environmental factors in labs which can in turn be used to control systems in inaccessible and unpredicable envrionments such as space. The Quantum Systems and Devices group have achieved this, you can read more about it  and their published paper in .
  •  ITCM group are collaborating with other national quantum centres on a project supported by UKRI Strategic Priorities Fund. The aim of  is to create a network of innovative quantum sensors, including atomic and molecular clocks and optical cavities.
  • Mark Webber, of the Ion Quantum Technology group and , has led on a paper published in AVS Quantum Science. It describes how a quantum computer could break the encryption of Bitcoin. The paper can be read here The Impact of Hardware Specifications on Reaching Quantum Advantage in the Fault Tolerant Regime, and a press release here ßÏßÏÊÓƵ Scientists Reveal how Quantum Computing can Break Bitcoin and Help Tackle World Hunger.
  •  explains how his Quantum Systems and Devices group are using quantum physics to see inside electrical vehicle batteries, in this  on 12 January (go to 3:15).

2021 at a glance

  •  of EPic Lab introduces the recent achievement from J.Zhang and coworkers on Optomechanics Dissipative Solitons in  journal.
  • Congratulations to who leads our EPic Lab. He's been has been elected to the Optica Fellows Class 2022 “For sustained pioneering contributions to the field of optical complexity and the development of novel terahertz applications based on ultrafast nonlinear photonics”. Read the announcement .
  • Aikaterini Gialopsou, a doctoral researcher in our Quantum Systems and Devices group, has led on research using quantum sensors to demonstrate a new technique spotting bio-markers for detecting health problems in the brain. Read the recently published paper in  journal, and more about her research here.
  • Vivek Kumar and Vittorio Cecconi of our EPic Lab not only presented at the conference, but won a prize too! Their  were victorious in their submission to The Wonderful World of Optics competition with the submission .
  •  joins as their latest board advisor. IdeaXMe is a global podcast, creator series and mentor programme who aim to inspire future innovators and pioneers. 
  • Another journal publication from the EPic Lab in Physical Review Research: .
  • , Deputy Director of SCQT, can now add science advisor to Hollywood to his list of achievements! Jacob was thrilled to be approached by Paramount Pictures to advise on complex quantum equations which feature on the wall of the star, Mark Wahlberg, in the film Infinite. The film investigates parallel universes and you can read more about Jacob's experience .
  • As the ßÏßÏÊÓƵ celebrates it's 60th birthday, we're delighted that our own  has been identified as contributing to one of a handful of landmark, impactful research breakthroughs. His first quantum computer blueprint was published in 2017 to great media acclaim.
  • The Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Kate Green MP, and Shadow Minister for Universities, Matt Western MP, take a break from the Labour Party Conference in Brighton to visit the Sussex. Among their meetings, they receive a tour of the Quantum Accelerator Building to find out more about the research of  .
  • A commercial battery imaging system born out of collaborative work between the Quantum Systems and Devices group and Brighton green energy start-up  is unveiled at the low carbon vehicle technology event , 22-23 September. Read more about it's development and useage here.
  •  is a ‘Special Invited’ speaker at the  in Rome, 13-17 September.  Alessia presents her talk 'Microcombs based on laser configuration: laser cavity solitons in a nested cavity geometry'.
  •  describes his personal journey across three continents and four countries to achieve his ultimate goal of developing a scalable quantum computer. He's interviewed for  about .
  • Our  is leading the fight against counterfeit goods.Their Terahertz Ink (THink) uses a novel technology developed here at the ßÏßÏÊÓƵ in collaboration with the Materials Physics Group, and has a wide range of business applications across industries. Read more about these exciting developments in .
  • Another paper from the Ion Quantum Technology group. Christophe Valahu et al explain 
  • Colleagues in the Ion Quantum Technology group achieve a breakthrough four years after setting up their unique ion trapping system which is installed with two chips, one chip being moved precisely using piezo actuators. They trap  and next plan to align the chips and shuttle individual ions between them, thus creating a link for transferring quantum information. The experiment demonstrates key aspects of a scalable architecture for building quantum computers using many connected ion trap chips.
  •  features on  organised by Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution. She shows us the reality of quantum technologies that already underpin our personal everyday way of living, and explains the importance to us all of the coming of age pocket atomic clocks and quantum computers.
  •  describes how a microchip-based quantum computer has been built incorporating an architecture in which calculations are carried out by shuttling atomic ions, with excellent performance and potential for scaling up: 
  • Three of our PhD students in the EPic Lab win prizes at the CLEO EU conference, more than any other institution! Congratulations ,  and .
  • Research in the EPic Lab, led by , has great significance for the evolution of ultra-fast communication devices. Read more in our article ßÏßÏÊÓƵ Scientists Develop Ultra-Thin Terahertz Source, Paving the way to Next Generation of Communication Technology.
  • The ßÏßÏÊÓƵ She can STEM society feature  in the final Q&A in their video series , rounding off a week of promotional activity to support International Women's Day.
  • Dr Tom Barrett and Dr Will Evans from our Quantum Systems and Devices group have their paper published , on arXiv.org.
  •  has his article  featured in Frontiers in Photonics. He also joins the ßÏßÏÊÓƵ Programme for Quantum Research Seminar Series with a talk 'Looking with Ultrafast Terahertz Eyes'.
  • The year commenced with excellent news that  is part of a team who have . The project, part of the , will utilise the work of Prof. Kellers ITCM team on a high precision molecular ion clock, which has the potential to achieve better accuracies compared to the best atomic clock to-date. Overall, the projects aim to demonstrate how quantum technologies could solve some of the greatest mysteries in fundamental physics.

2020 at a glance

  • We round off the year in December with Juan Totero Gongora and colleagues from the EPic Lab having their paper published in Physical Review Letters: .
  •  will be leading a project aimed at . The project, funded by the , will mark the first time quantum sensors are used as a solution in battery innovation, and is aligned with the Government’s 10-point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution.
  • Our , led by , has published two papers in October:  in Review of Scientific Instruments 91, and  in Applied Physics Letters 117.
  •  Ion Trap Cavity-QED and Molecular Physics group have been busy during September. Costas Christoforou and colleagues had their paper on  published, in Nature Research Scientific Reports. Thomas Walker et al published  in Physical Review A.
  • We're delighted to see a paper by Dr Zak Romaszko et al of our Ion Quantum Technology group, published in Nature Review Physics . Zak gives an  on his current work with Universal Quantum, and how close they are to building the first large-scale quantum computer.
  • The Ion Quantum Technology group have had a breakthrough in the laboratory, by developing an algorithm which helps early quantum computers to perform calculations more efficiently.
  • After months of preparation,  and  launch their spin-out company . Their goal to build the world's first large scale quantum computer has attrcated £3.6 million investment from some of the world's more impressive tech investors.
  •  research on the potential spread of a Covid second wave has been reported  It suggests that people outside of population centres such as London and New York may be worse affected due to lack of immunity in those areas.
  •   about his work on quantum computing, what it could mean for everyday life, and what inspired him to become a quantum physicist.
  • Congratulations to Juan Totero Gongora from our EPic Lab. He's been awarded a Leverhulme Early Careers Fellowship with his project 'Route to AI control of micro-comb lasers'.
  • In our Quantum Systems and Devices Oyster Lab, Amruta Gadge and team were succesful in remotely establishing a . This is a first for us, born out of lockdown, and having wider implications for remote lab control in terms of operating quantum technology in inaccessible environments.
  • Researchers in our EPic Lab have developed the first non linear camera capable of capturing high-resolution images of the interior of solid objects. They have combined lasers, computers and terahertz (THz) waves to build a camera that sees 'unseen' details.
  •  from our Emergent Photonics (EPic) Lab gives the first Register Lecture of the decade. Her research into whether , investigates the alternative to satellite signals.

2019 at a glance

  • Raphaël Le Brun-Ricalens, doctoral researcher and PhD student in our Ion Quantum Technology Group, is featured in the Luxembourg National Research Fund's Spotlight on Young Researchers. He explains why he has joined the field at such an exciting time, why his Masters degree at ßÏßÏÊÓƵ got him hooked to enrol on our doctoral programme, and his future careers aspirations .
  • Raphaël was interviewed for LadBible on the plausibility of the 'quantum realm' in Avengers: Endgame.Read the full article here (contains spoilers!) 
  • Congratulations to Prof. Marco Peccianti on being awarded an ERC Proof of Concept grant which will allow us to explore the commercial potential of the EPic Lab's research!
  • Dr Alessia Pasquazi, Prof. Marco Peccianti and their colleagues from the EPic Lab discuss their latest research in this video .

See our recent showcase of quantum work