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Quantum Delta NL (QDNL), in collaboration with NWO, have awarded four of our professors on Quantum Technology grants as part of the second call of the National programme’s Action Line 1 ‘Research & Innovation’. Quantum innovations in the categories of quantum sensing applications, quantum computing, and quantum networking were recognized.

The goal of QDNL and NWO is to realize the much-needed scientific and technological breakthroughs in the field of quantum technology. QDNL has reserved a total of 42 million euros for the Action Line 'research and innovation', over a period of seven years. The aim is to strengthen the scientific basis of quantum technology.

Servaas Kokkelmans in the Applied Physics and Science Education (APSE) department of TU/e and coordinator of Action Line 1 ‘Research & Innovation at QDNL commented: “The second quantum Technology call was a great success. The successful proposals are spread across various areas of expertise and of application of quantum technology, and they all feed into the three catalyst projects of QDNL. Both the quality of the proposals and the success rate are very high. This is very motivating for the researchers and will significantly increase their involvement with QDNL.”
 

Quantum computing with neutral atoms

The research Aida Todri-Sanial is awarded for is about quantum computers based on neutral atoms; AtomCOMP. Neutral atoms promise better scalability, an easy cooling environment and flexible placement of qubits. This allows for multiple qubit operations and the parallelism of quantum operations. Most design methodologies, such as compile, synthesize and fault mitigation, are primarily focused on superconducting qubits. Specific circuit design methods that exploit and support the potential of the neutral atom quantum architecture are still largely unexplored. AtomCOMP addresses this by developing a new hybrid compilation framework which combines qubit mapping and pulse optimization at the circuit level. This allows AtomCOMP to take advantage of multi-qubit operations.
 

Optical tweezers

Oded Raz and his co-applicant, Edgar .J.D. Vredenbregt were also awarded a Quantum Delta NL - NWO grant. Their awarded research concerns “optical tweezers”. A laser beam can hold on to an atom much like a tweezer can grab a small object. Such “optical tweezers” are an essential part of a new type of computer that uses quantum mechanics to speed up calculations. Quantum computers that use atoms to process information are still in their infancy and to reach maturity will need a larger atomic register. In this work, techniques from photonics are combined with atomic physics to solve this problem by greatly expanding the capabilities of optical tweezers.
 

High-speed quantum key distribution

Also Idelfonso Tafur Monroy and his team have received a quantum technology grant. In this research project, Idelfonso Tafur Monroy et al. aim to develop the first all-integrated, high-speed QKD transmitter able to support discrete variable protocols such as measurement-device-independent QKD protocol. Achieving this ambitious objective requires deep synergies between techniques based on quantum communication and photonic integration technology. The outcome, a QKD transmitter on chip, will integrate the necessary optical components needed to support multi-protocol QKD implementations. When combined with integrated single-photon detectors, this proposed QKD system on chip, will pave the way for successfully integrating QKD into future quantum communication networks. 
 

Quantum proof security systems

Tanja Lange, together with her co-applicant Kathrin Hövelmanns, have been awarded a Quantum Delta NL – NWO grant for their EPOCHAL - Extensions of Post-quantum CryptograpHy and Algorithms, research. While many projects on developing quantum computing highlight the benefits that such computers can bring, the EPOCHAL project deals with the fallout of this success: currently used security systems can be broken with a large-scale quantum computer and new systems are required to replace them. Unfortunately secure replacements are not readily available for all situations. The EPOCHAL project will design and analyse replacements and investigate and build functionalities needed for integrating these in bigger systems.

Of all 19 applicants, four of the awarded are women. Where two of them are associated with TU/e and EHCI. We are proud of their achievements and it shows how we thrive for a better gender balance within our researcher’s community at TU/e.

Many congratulations to Aida, Tanja, Oded and Idelfonso! What a great way to start 2024!