Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences - Department of Physics

Inaugural lecture: Prof. Dr. Tim Schröder (HU Berlin and Ferdinand-Braun-Institut) will talk about:

Quantum Physics and Technology with glamour – How diamonds make the quantum internet possible

Abstract

Have you ever heard about the quantum internet?

The quantum internet is, analogous to the world wide web, a distributed network that uses quantum communication instead of classical communication. Quantum communication is based on sending quantum light to connect distant parties and, for example, exchange information in a physically secure way.

Remarkably, diamond can be used to create quantum light. This (sometimes glamorous) material can contain atom-like light sources that we create and control in our laboratories. The single photons (the quantum light) that can be generated with these sources, can be sent from one party to another, and are key in establishing quantum communication.

Such communication links are presently limited to relatively short distances of about 100 km. Long-distance communication exceeding 100 km is enabled by so called quantum repeaters, the quantum analogue to a classical amplifier. Quantum repeaters can be based on photonic cluster states – entangled states of up to hundreds of photons. Cluster states are very complex quantum light states and are extremely difficult to create (to date, only three research groups worldwide have done so). They are not only useful in quantum technology but are themselves fascinating states of light that have not yet been fully understood fundamentally. Our atom-like light sources in diamond can also be used to create such states and we are working on their modelling and creation to enable one day long-distance quantum communication in a future quantum internet.

In my inaugural lecture, I will introduce to you how to create quantum light with diamond, how to use quantum light for quantum communication, how quantum communication can be extended to 1000 km, how to use diamond to create the required cluster states, and how cluster states can also be used for quantum computation.

While I will introduce these exciting research topics, I will also show you how our quantum optics experiments look like, how we can create diamond nanostructures that are 1000-times thinner than hair and why they look like a sawfish, how we can manipulate quantum systems in less than 1 picosecond, and how we try to fit all the required components in one chip.

Zoom Link:
https://hu-berlin.zoom.us/j/64567336962?pwd=QjhyMW5SbFVBZWVNRWJrTFBFN2Rtdz09
Meeting-ID: 645 6733 6962
Passwort: 607723