Research areas
Bulk atomic gases
We explore matter at nanokelvin temperatures where quantum statistics dominate. Using “optical box” traps, we create uniform quantum fluids to measure phase transitions and scaling laws precisely, free from the density fluctuations of traditional traps.
These platforms facilitate the study of quantum turbulence and the transition between three-dimensional and two-dimensional physics. By observing energy cascades through these superfluids, we gain insights into many-body systems far from equilibrium.
These experiments serve as pristine environments for discovering universal properties of matter that transcend specific atomic species and remain hidden in complex materials.
Atoms in Optical Lattices
We use counter-propagating lasers to create periodic “crystals of light,” simulating electron behavior in solid-state materials. These optical lattices act as programmable quantum simulators for studying complex phenomena like high-temperature superconductivity.
Key investigations include many-body localisation, where disorder prevents thermalization to preserve quantum information, and Floquet engineering, which uses periodic driving to synthesise new states of matter. These experiments provide a bridge between quantum optics and materials science, addressing problems that are computationally impossible for classical supercomputers while exploring the collective dynamics of interacting particles.
Solid-State Spins and Photons
We create and use nanoscale materials which permit the manipulation of electronic and nuclear-spin qubits within wide-bandgap (for example diamond) or semiconducting crystals. A primary goal is developing high-quality interfaces between these stationary spin qubits and light as single photons, enabling future quantum networks and efficient sensors.
Using nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond, we have pioneered nanoscale sensors for magnetic resonance imaging at the single-molecule level. Furthermore, leveraging ensembles of nuclear spins as robust quantum memory protects information from decoherence.
These solid-state platforms integrate light-matter interactions with scalable photonic and electronic manufacturing, offering a viable path toward practical quantum technology, high-speed communication, and ultra-precise biological sensing.
