Nanoscale Systems for Optical Quantum Technologies |
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Issue 4: October 2018 - May 2019 1. Quantum sensing and how it shall change the world 2. A Ph. D. thesis explained in 180 seconds 3. NanOQTech's actors: Dr. Klaas-Jan Tielrooij, ERC starting grant laureate 4. Events: national day of scientific training in chemistry 5. Latest publications |
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1. Quantum sensing and how it shall change the world |
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The definition for a sensor is quite general: it can be any device whose state changes with that of another system, hence providing information about it. In our current society, we rely on sensors for almost everything, from domestic thermometers to the sophisticated sensing systems used in automated industrial processes. Still, an imminent revolution is expected from the incorporation of quantum principles to sensing. But, how do quantum sensors work? |
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Quantum sensing takes advantage from quantum coherence, entangled states and superposition states in atoms, molecules and/or photons, to reach record levels of sensitivity, precision, and accuracy. Quantum states are indeed extremely sensitive to environmental changes, reacting to fluctuations which are completely unnoticeable for classical technologies. This has important implications: for instance, detecting tiny gravity fluctuations with quantum gravimeters could help earthquake prediction and early detection of volcanic activity. Quantum gravimeters could also be used to detect underground structures without the need for digging, with the corresponding time and cost savings. Another important aspect of quantum sensing is its ability to provide high-precision references. In this sense, atomic clocks have now been used for several years as frequency standards. They are therefore central to the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Quantum sensors also find applications in the field of life sciences. In particular, quantum-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques are proposed to enable magnetic resonance studies on single atoms and molecules. Such studies should pave the way for a better understanding of degenerative diseases, the human nervous system and the brain itself. In summary, with its many implications, quantum sensing is going to impact our everyday life. It might even change the way we see the world. |
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2. A Ph. D. thesis explained in 180 seconds |
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Explaining the content of Ph. D. thesis to a general public audience is a great challenge. In addition, if we add a time limit for the explanations: three minutes or 180 seconds, it seems just an impossible task. Indeed, everyone going through a Ph. D. degree has already experienced the difficulty to share details of their everyday work with family and friends. This is not surprising since a Ph. D. degree, highest academic degree available, is obtained after several years of intensive work on a highly specific topic. The challenge is however faced by many Ph. D candidates participating in the so-called "Three minutes thesis" competition. Originally created at the University of Queensland (Australia) to help young researchers refine their communication skills, the competition exists nowadays in countries all around the world. Winners from different universities compete with each other at a national final round, from which some are selected to participate at the international finals. A NanOQTech young researcher, Alexandre Fossati, joined the competition with an excellent result: he was awarded first prize in Paris Science and Letters University. So, if you want to learn something about rare-earth ions for quantum technologies and you just have three minutes, just click here. |
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3. NanOQTech's actors: Dr. Klaas-Jan Tielrooij |
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Dr. Klaas-Jan Tielrooij, an active member of the NanOQTech consortium, was recently appointed Junior Group Leader at the Catalan Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) in Barcelona, Spain, where he leads the group “Ultrafast Dynamics in Nanoscale Systems”. Since July 2018, he is also a visiting professor at the Graduate School of Excellence “Materials Science in Mainz” (Germany). |
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Before this, he was a research fellow and postdoctoral researcher at ICFO – the Institute of Photonic Sciences (Barcelona, Spain, ICFO-NOE), and a guest researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (Germany). He performed his Ph. D. research at AMOLF in Amsterdam (the Netherlands), for which he received the FOM Physics Thesis Prize 2011. He was awarded the prestigious ERC Starting Grant in 2018 and the Spanish Ramón y Cajal Fellowship in 2019. He has authored over 35 publications, of which 13 have appeared in Nature and Science family journals. Q. The ERC program offers a great opportunity for scientists around Europe to develop high-level original research. It is however extremely competitive. What would be your advice to young researchers considering an ERC application? KJT: My advice is that if you have an original research idea that matches your scientific background you should definitely apply. Perhaps don’t wait until the very last year that you are allowed to apply, like I did… |
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Q. After several years at ICFO Barcelona, you recently joined the Catalan Institut for Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies (IC2N) where you start your own research group. Which will be your main research topics there? KJT: Indeed, I joined ICN2 in October 2018 as a Junior Group Leader. ICN2 is a world-leading institute in the field of nanotechnology and very active in the community that works on 2D materials, such a graphene. In my group “Ultrafast Dynamics in Nanoscale Systems”, we are interested in phenomena that take place on fast timescales – down to femtoseconds – and in particular in nanoscale systems. One of our preferred nanoscale systems is currently formed by the class of 2D materials, and we have a particular interest in the topic of thermal transport phenomena, where 2D materials offer many opportunities that were previously not possible. We are also very much interested in the correlation and conversion between different carriers of energy, heat and charge. A third topic of interest is terahertz technologies for, and with, nanosystems. Q. You have followed a very international and multidisciplinary career. Would you encourage scientific researchers to increase their economics and entrepreneurship skills? KJT: I believe that changing research fields – I moved from studying rotating water molecules to graphene optoelectronic phenomena – has had a very positive impact, as multidisciplinarity helps to see the broad picture, and make connections that might not be obvious for those with a different background. I did indeed also study some Economics and Innovation management, but so far I have not had a chance to put much of what I learned there in practice, except perhaps some data fitting tools from econometrics, and some knowledge on the patent system. Q. Quantum technologies have become a big trend in the last years. How do you see their development in the near future? KJT: Indeed, with the QT Flagship, it will be very interesting to see how the field will evolve. Based on what we have seen with the Graphene Flagship, I expect scientific interest and progress to accelerate, and industry to get involved more rapidly. Certainly, these are exciting times to work in this field! |
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National day of scientific training in chemistry 2019 As a part of the CNRS event: National day of scientific training in chemistry, a group of nine secondary school teachers participated in scientific workshops organized by Diana Serrano (CNRS-CP) and supervised by NanOQTech's junior researchers. Among others, they took part in the chemical synthesis of rare-earth doped nanoparticles and participated in several optical spectroscopy experiments. |
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NanOQTech's context and goals were discussed during the visit and the visitors appeared particularly interested by the project outputs. In the picture: group of professors during the laser spectroscopy workshop. |
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This project has received funding from the European Union FET Open programme under grant agreement No. 712721 |
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