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Laboratory for X-ray Nanoscience and Technologies (LXN)

  • About LXN
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    • X-ray Nano-Optics
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QPS IR Lab

Quantum Photon ScienceFundamentals and concepts for novel quantum devices

One of the main driving forces for top-down nanofabrication is to design the light-matter interaction in metamaterials and to improve the optical and transport properties of materials by applying quantum effects, but also by controlling external constraints such as spatial dimension and strain. Spectroscopy and scattering techniques are our main tools to investigate the respective "modified" structures, which provide the bases for improving the performance of electronic and opto-electronic devices.

Our scientific agenda derives from the synthesis of our knowledge of "old" materials, such as Si or Ge, correlated electron systems and Van der Waals materials, as well as, new concepts from the quantum information science and technology.

The QPS group employs PSI’s large-scale facilities to study many-body phenomena in quantum matter and to engineer novel nanostructured devices. Our activities nucleate at the infrared (IR) beamline of the Swiss Light Source (SLS) synchrotron and the PSI clean room,  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.


Current Projects

adrian_project

Rare-earth quantum magnets

Si Rydberg

Rydberg states in Si ∂-layers

SLAC_CoherentLockIn_FeSe

Imaging of quantum many-body states

CDW_Mem

Van der Waals materials & devices

Spin waves.

Nonlinear magnonics

PHLUX_arXiv

Optical devices & methods

Ge-Laser_Teaser

Strained Ge laser (former research activity of H. Sigg & collaborators)


Open positions

MSc/PhD thesis on non-equilibrium quantum phenomena

Postdoctoral Fellow on THz photonics and quantum optics

In addition to advertised positions, we always welcome applications from highly motivated and skilled candidates.


News and highlights

1 October 2022
QML Retreat 2022 Weggis

"Quantum Magnet Lunch" Retreat in Weggis

On September 30 & October 1 2022, our so-called "Quantum Magnet Lunch" team - consisting of the larger QPS group, as well as, Gabriel Aeppli and Markus Müller - has organised a two-day retreat to review our ongoing projects. The goal of the event was to fly above the details of our daily routine and to revisit our overall vision.

Read more
2 September 2022
CH-F Pulsed Magnet Retreat

Swiss-French Pulsed Magnetic Field Retreat

The Cristallina-Q team has welcomed French high-field experts at SwissFEL for an informal 2-day retreat. The ten participants  discussed which technical capabilities of the UZH-PSI pulsed magnet setup should be further developed and which science cases targeted in the upcoming commissioning and pilot experiment phase.

Read more
14 March 2022
Cristallina 1st light

SwissFEL Cristallina "first light" milestone achieved

First X-rays have reached the SwissFEL Cristallina experimental station on 14.03.2021 which is one day ahead of schedule. The achievement of this important milestone marks the beginning of the commissioning phase of the Cristallina project.

Read more
15 February 2022
Reiche, Aeppli and Gerber

Opening the door to X-ray quantum optics

The 'perfect' X-ray beam-splitter: Researchers at SwissFEL have an ingenious solution to produce coherent copies of pulses, facilitating a realm of new X-ray techniques.

Read more
10 January 2022
SLS 3D

Millions in funding for brain and quantum research

Research Using Synchrotron Light Materials Research Biology Health Innovation Future Technologies Quantum Research

The European Research Council approves PSI projects for the development of a quantum computer and brain research worth about 5 million euros.

Read more
18 October 2021
Ultraschnelle Kontrolle von Quantenmaterialien

Ultrafast control of quantum materials

Media Releases Materials Research SwissFEL

Using light to fundamentally change the properties of solids

Read more
21 June 2021
Quantum billiard

Quantum billiards with correlated electrons

Our collaborators at the Jozef Stefan Institute – the leading author, Jan Ravnik, is now a PSI Fellow at LMN – report a study of the electron ordering in equilateral triangle structures via photoexcitation of the prototypical dichalcogenide 1T-TaS2.

Read more
21 April 2021
Time domain phase diagram of 1T-TaS2

A time-domain phase diagram of metastable quantum states

Our collaborators at the Jozef Stefan Institute – the leading author, Jan Ravnik, is now a PSI Fellow at LMN – report a ‘dynamical’ phase diagram of metastable quantum states generated via photoexcitation of the prototypical dichalcogenide material 1T-TaS2.

Read more
24 August 2020
Cat Qubit 2

Scientists develop a new kind of qubit based on the concept of Schrödinger’s cat

Scientists in the Applied Physics department of Yale University – one of the leading authors, Alexander Grimm, has in the meantime relocated to PSI – have developed a new device that combines the Schrödinger’s cat concept of superposition (a physical system existing in two states at once) with the ability to fix some of the trickiest errors in a quantum computation.

Read more
12 August 2020
adrian_fig3

Efficient analysis method for multiplet lines in Fourier space

In his first paper as lead author, LMN PhD student Adrian Beckert and co-authors demonstrate an algorithm which takes advantage of peak multiplicity to retrieve line shape information. The results were published in Optics Express and are relevant to a wide range of topics, ranging from neutron-scattering to spectroscopy of rare-earth doped solids.

Read more
8 June 2020
Cryo Stand

Diffractometer stand built in collaboration with local SME

A light-weight, low-vibration diffractometer stand has been designed and produced in close collaboration with the local supplier Heinz Baumgartner AG. This component will be used in conjunction with a cryomagnet system to study quantum matter at the SwissFEL Bernina and Cristallina-Q endstations.

Read more
1 July 2019
LaserImage

First demonstration of a Germanium laser

Scientist at the Paul Scherrer Institut and ETH Zürich, with colleagues from CEA Grenoble, have demonstrated and characterized a technology that, for the first time, yields lasing from strained elemental Germanium. This achievement underlines PSI’s leading role in the development of Silicon-compatible laser light sources.

Read more
7 July 2017
teaserbild.jpg

Scientists get first direct look at how electrons ‘dance’ with vibrating atoms

Scientists at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University - one of the leading authors, Simon Gerber, has in the meantime relocated to PSI - have made the first direct measurements, and by far the most precise ones, of how electrons move in sync with atomic vibrations rippling through an quantum material, in the present study an unconventional superconductor, as if they were “dancing" to the same beat.

Read more
7 July 2017

Research experience from California benefits Swiss X-ray free-electron laser SwissFEL

Media Releases Large Research Facilities Future Technologies SwissFEL

An X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) is capable of visualizing extremely fast structural and electronic processes. Pilot experiments will take place at the PSI's Swiss Free-Electron Laser (SwissFEL) from the end of 2017 on. Two current publications in Science and Nature Communications demonstrate the kind of outstanding scientific work that is enabled by such facilities. The work was carried out at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) in California. Two of the leading authors behind these studies have now relocated to the PSI in order to share their expertise as SwissFEL expands its capabilities.

Read more
This is a text from the PSI media archive. The contents may be out-of-date.

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Contact

Simon Gerber

Quantum Photon Science Group
Paul Scherrer Institut
5232 Villigen PSI
Switzerland

Telephone: +41 56 310 39 65
E-mail: simon.gerber@psi.ch

SwissFEL Cristallina

IR Beamline at SLS

Quantum Technologies Collaboration at PSI (QTC@PSI)

A nucleation point of PSI competences towards the quantum technology initiative
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