Researchers at the Quantum Research Center's (QRC) Quantum Communications lab (QComms) achieved a milestone by demonstrating the violation of a Bell inequality using pairs of polarized entangled photons. This achievement serves as a "quantum health check" for their entangled photon source. The QRC team is working to harness entanglement effects in ultra-secure key distribution schemes to enhance secure communication. Why it matters: This advancement validates the application-readiness of QRC's quantum communication devices, paving the way for enhanced security in communication technologies within the region.
Communications Physics journal has a focus collection on space quantum communications. The collection covers supporting technologies, new quantum protocols, inter-satellite QKD, constellations of satellites, and quantum inspired technologies and protocols for space based communication. Contributions are welcome from October 20, 2020 to April 30, 2021, and accepted papers are published on a rolling basis. Why it matters: Space-based quantum communication is a critical area for developing secure, global quantum networks, and this collection could highlight relevant research for the GCC region as it invests in advanced technologies.
Prof. Simon Gröblacher from Delft University of Technology presented a seminar on using mechanical systems in quantum information processing, focusing on their potential as quantum memories and transducers. The seminar highlighted experiments demonstrating non-classical behavior of mechanical motion by coupling a micro-fabricated acoustic resonator to single optical photons. Quantum control over acoustic motion was established, including the generation and readout of single phononic excitations, along with light-matter entanglement. Why it matters: This research advances the use of micro-fabricated acoustic resonators for quantum information processing and fundamental tests of quantum physics.
Professor Christian Roos from the University of Innsbruck will present a seminar on investigating many-body physics using trapped ions dressed by laser light. The talk will cover encoding, manipulating, and entangling quantum information using laser-cooled trapped ions. Recent experiments demonstrating entangling interactions and single-qubit control in strings of up to 50 ions will be discussed. Why it matters: This seminar contributes to advancements in quantum computing and simulation, fields of increasing interest in the Middle East as the region invests in advanced technologies.
This article summarizes presentations from an internal Quantum Research Center (QRC) workshop at the Technology Innovation Institute (TII). Topics covered included superconducting quantum computers, quantum coherent networks, quantum simulation, and quantum machine learning. Several presentations also discussed experimental quantum technologies. Why it matters: The workshop highlights TII's ongoing research activities in quantum computing and related technologies, signaling its commitment to advancing the field in the UAE.
Dr. Giampiero Marchegiani from the Quantum Research Center (QRC) co-authored a paper in Nature Nanotechnology on bipolar thermoelectricity in Josephson junctions. The research demonstrates the generation of electrical current using heat, observing bipolar thermoelectricity where the device generates either positive or negative electrical signals without extra control. Integrating these junctions into a bipolar thermoelectric Josephson engine (BTJE) allowed the generation of up to ~140nW/mm2 of electric power at subkelvin temperatures. Why it matters: This BTJE engine may have applications in superconducting technology, potentially strengthening the UAE's position in quantum technologies.
Dr. Abdulla AlHajri, a Senior Researcher at the Quantum Research Center (QRC), co-authored a paper published in Nature Communications titled “Quantum Physics in Connected Worlds.” The research, conducted with scientists from the University of Oxford, investigated the impact of geometry and structure on fundamental system properties. It identified structures with unusual geometry capable of altering material magnetic properties uniquely. Why it matters: This publication highlights the growing quantum research capabilities in the UAE and QRC's contributions to cutting-edge physics.
Researchers from LENS, CNR-INO, the University of Florence, UNAM, RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau, and TII Abu Dhabi have observed Shapiro steps in ultracold atoms for the first time. This allows for real-time observation of quantum mechanics and could lead to advanced quantum sensors and simulation. The experiments involved creating vortex-antivortex pairs, resulting in step-like signals, and the findings were published in Science. Why it matters: This breakthrough provides a new method to observe and control quantum coherence, potentially enabling advancements in quantum technologies and simulations within the region.