Quantum Technologies - fundamentals and new concepts for better nanodevices
For more than 50 years, the traditional approach to increase the performance of integrated circuits made from CMOS has been to scale down dimensions so as to reduce power consumption and increase signal processing speed. To achieve such miniaturization in the face of exponentially increasing fabrication challenges required many ingenious ideas and billions in investment. We are however rapidly reaching the end of this path, as current system dimensions and occupation reach the de-Broglie wavelength and single electron levels, meaning not only can quantum effects no longer be ignored but in fact begin to dominate.
Quantum Technologies (QT) are the answer to this long expected end of the classical path. Its quest is to turn the challenges of hitting this quantum limit into an opportunity, namely, making use of the quantum properties of matter to bring device technology to a final and superior level of performance, using novel architecture for computing, communication, and sensing applications.
There are many attractive candidate materials for the realisation of quantum devices. The hosting of qubits – the quantum analogue of the binary operators in classical systems – can be realized by employing spins in magnetic atoms, magnetic molecules, and molecular magnets, but also in surface bands participating in well-defined interactions defined by the physics and chemistry of bonding.
PSI and in particular the photon science department hosts outstanding facilities and expertise to contribute to many of these approaches through its unique combination of light- & particle sources, nanofabrication & characterisation facilities, as well as sensor expertise.
Our Mission
The QT group employs PSI’s large-scale facilities to study many-body phenomena in quantum matter and to engineer novel nanostructured devices.
Our scientific agenda derives from the synthesis of our knowledge from “old” materials such as silicon, germanium, and correlated electron systems with new concepts from the quantum physics.
Our activities nucleate at the infrared (IR) beamline of the Swiss Light Source (SLS) synchrotron, and the laboratory of micro and nanotechnology where we set the ground for ultrafast x-ray spectroscopy and scattering experiments in high magnetic fields and low temperatures at the SwissFEL x-ray free-electron laser.
Projects
Open Positions
While we are not advertising for specific positions at the moment, we always welcome applications from highly motivated and skilled candidates.
Guy Matmon joins the group as new scientist.
Nicolò d'Anna joins the group as new PhD student.
The QT group held its annual internal seminar in Hospental.
Alexey Lyasota joins the QT Group as new Postdoc.
Jakub Vonka joins the QT Group and the Laboratory for Scientific Developments and Novel Materials (LDM) as new Postdoc.
Simon Gerber’s paper was published in Science.
Highly precise measurements of iron selenide show how electrons move in sync with atomic vibrations rippling through the quantum material. The experiments were carried out at the LCLS x-ray free-electron laser of the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and at Stanford University.SLAC press release
PSI press release
Adrian Beckert joins the group as new PhD student.
The Symposium on Direct Band Gap Group 4 Photonics successfully took place at PSI.
The QT group held its annual internal seminar at Rigi Kaltbad.
Joe Martin Bailey joins the group as new Postdoc.
Francesco Armand Pilon joins the group as new PhD student.
Judith Wörle receives Best Student Poster Award at the ECSCRM 2016 in Chalkidiki, Greece.
The Quantum Technology group under the head of Dr. Hans Sigg is formed.