Quantum Science and Technology

The Quantum Science and Technology theme investigates the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics and their application into quantum technologies. This is one of our major strengths. Since 2014, this area has been awarded research funding of over £100M, awarded a range of prestigious Fellowships funded by EPSRC, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society, and trained more than 100 PhDs.

We are part of four of the five new national Quantum Technology Hubs funded by EPSRC and commencing in December 2024. We lead the “Integrated Quantum Networks Hub” (IQN Hub), and we are senior partners in the quantum-enabled position, navigation and timing Hub (QEPNT), the quantum sensing, imaging and timing Hub (QuSIT) and the Hub examining the development of quantum sensors for biomedical research (Q-BIOMED).

We host several cutting-edge research facilities, including the “2D Nanofabrication” facility to create state-of-the-art heterostructures of 2D materials, the “Nanoscale Quantum Sensing” facility (which deploys single electron spins to study nanoscale phenomena) and the Quantum Communications Hub Optical Ground Station (which provides the ground link for the UK satellite quantum communications).

Quantum communication and networking

We develop quantum communication systems that enable the secure transmission of data over long distances. We build state-of-the-art single photon source based on nonlinear optical processes or generated by semiconductor single photon emitters.

We pioneer the development of quantum repeaters, implemented for example with rare-earth ions, or single spins in semiconductor quantum devices.

We are leading the implementation of a UK quantum satellite network, that will be enable the establishment of secure channels within remote locations. Our Edinburgh campus hosts the Quantum Communications Hub Optical Ground Station (HOGS), a state-of-the-art telescope for quantum signals from satellites.

Quantum sensing and imaging

We are developing quantum sensors for diverse applications, from materials science to medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring. For instance, sensors based on single electron spins achieve spatial resolutions of a few tens of nanometers, enabling imaging of magnetic fields, temperature, and currents in nanomaterials. These sensors can detect small quantities of bio-molecules, facilitating early disease detection.

We also develop single-photon detectors, and apply them to measure complex quantum states of light, to achieve better depth resolution, image targets through obscurants at kilometre range, and track fast moving objects (including light itself!).

Quantum materials

We engineer high-performance quantum devices, from bright semiconductor single photon sources to quantum memories and spin-photon interfaces in opto-electronic devices, as well as diamond-based quantum sensors.

Additionally, we explore new quantum materials in novel 2D atomically-thin devices. These layers can be assembled into “heterostructures” with tailored material properties, such as superconductivity and exotic magnetism. Our studies on quantum effects in 2D heterostructures employ techniques like optical spectroscopy and in-situ quantum sensors to probe properties at atomic scales.