The research activity of the group will be concerned with quantum correlations & entanglement in many-body theory with specific applications to quantum gases confined in low dimensional structures, atomtronics, mesoscopic networks, and superconducting circuits.
Both static and dynamical properties are studied. The methods for the analysis follow often non-perturbative analytical, but also numerical schemes.
The group focusses on the development of quantum algorithms, with special emphasis on hard optimisation problems, quantum machine learning, and many-body quantum simulations. We explore both complex procedures for future fully-fledged quantum computers as well as practical primitives for near-term quantum processors with useful applications. This involves research in topics such as hybrid classical-quantum approaches, quantum-circuit compiling and optimisation, quantum error correction and mitigation, neural- and tensor-network tools, or schemes for verifying or benchmarking quantum devices, e.g.
The Quantum Middleware team is responsible for the development of a full-stack middleware and software for interacting with quantum systems and simulators, including the implementation of quantum algorithms, classical simulation of quantum computation, and the control of quantum devices. The main research activity focuses on the development of Qibo, a framework for quantum computing with hardware acceleration, that is being designed to prepare, schedule and execute quantum algorithms using classical simulation and quantum devices.
Quantum Communications at the QRC focuses on the development and deployment of quantum devices in real-world settings. With the imminent arrival of quantum computers, our classical cryptosystems face an unprecedented threat. Quantum key distribution may provide the solution, using quantum signals to establish ultra-secure networks over fiber and free-space links.
Research domains include:
- Quantum key distribution (point-to-point and multi-user networks)
- Entanglement distribution
- Device independent security
- Chip-scale quantum devices
The primary goal of the Quantum Computation Laboratory is to build and operate the first quantum computer in the region, using superconducting circuits operating near the absolute zero of temperature where quantum correlations survive thermal fluctuations. Qubits, computer architecture and control circuits are being designed in close collaboration with other groups at QRC, and will be produced on-site in our own quantum foundry.
The Quantum Sensing Laboratory focuses on technology development and fundamental studies of optomechanical sensors. The main research line concentrates on levitated particle sensors in ultra-high vacuum conditions. Those systems are promising candidates for e.g. high-end inertial sensors, sensing of minute torques and forces, but also for chemical sensing. Due to stability demands of real-world sensors, an extension of the research to more robust clamped optomechanical systems is possible.