2019 Centre for Quantum Technologies CONTENTS CQT at a glance - PDF document

annual report 2019 Centre for Quantum Technologies

CONTENTS CQT at a glance Nurturing a community 2 of quantum expertise View from the Director 3 28 Governing Board The year by numbers Scientjfjc Advisory Board 4 29 Stafg and visitors Exceptional research, 30 projects and people Students at CQT 31 Recognitjon 6 Science updates 33 Alumni 8 Informatjon in motjon 34 Scientjfjic events 14 Commercial collaboratjons to advance QKD Measuring CQT's 17 A new spin on achievements cold strontjum atoms and impact 19 The Quantum SG initjatjve 36 Research 21 Partnership supports 37 Collaboratjons quantum ‘deep tech’ 38 Industry 24 QUANTUM: The Exhibitjon 39 Outreach 40 Money matuers Supporters 41 www.quantumlah.org twituer.com/quantumlah facebook.com/quantumlah youtube.com/quantumblah linkedin.com/company/quantumlah 2 2 3 3

CQT AT VIEW FROM THE DIRECTOR A GLANCE The Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) is a Research Centre of Excellence The dinner conversation is in full history of quantum theory and the in Singapore. We bring together physicists, computer scientjsts and engineers to swing. I tell a story of a sign in Munich development of quantum technologies do basic research on quantum physics and to build devices based on quantum that reads “Heisenberg might have worldwide, including contributions phenomena. Experts in this new discipline of quantum technologies are applying slept here.” Outburst of laughter. By from Singapore. their discoveries in computjng, communicatjons, and sensing. the way, do you know Schrödinger’s favourite Bond-movie? “Live and Let We are also looking to the future. The Centre was established in December 2007 with support from Singapore’s Die.” Another good one, I thought… Singapore’s quantum community Natjonal Research Foundatjon and Ministry of Educatjon. CQT is hosted by the is growing rapidly and, if we are to Natjonal University of Singapore (NUS) and also has stafg at Nanyang Technological Now, you may think I was dining with remain internationally competitive, University (NTU). CQTians, my geeky colleagues. Not so. we must work together to consolidate Most of my companions that night our research and engage with of the research. Using an atomic DISCOVERY were bankers and politjcians. I used policymakers to contribute to the magnetometer to study the magnetjc to think that introducing myself as a development of natjonal strategy in sense of cockroaches is an excellent We pursue insight into the physics that describes light, matuer, and informatjon. quantum physicist was a conversatjon quantum technologies. You can read example of an unexpected use case We develop novel tools to study and control their interactjons. Our research stopper. These days, courtesy of the more about our plans on pages 19–20. for a quantum device. The fjndings also goals range from understanding the propertjes of materials to working out new media’s obsession with quantum fjt the ambitjon of Ig Nobel prizes to encryptjon schemes. computers, we are perceived as cool. Finally, if you want to know more honour achievements that make you People may not know exactly what about the basic components of laugh, then think (see p.32). TECHNOLOGY we do but stjll they fjnd it fascinatjng. quantum computers, learn from our So here we are again with our CQT feature on quantum logic with trapped That’s a story I can add to my afuer- We build technologies for secure communicatjon, quantum computjng, and annual report to inform, educate and ions (see pp.8–13). Building quantum dinner repertoire. We hope that precision measurement. We create our own sofuware and control systems that entertain. computers will take tjme, but it will readers of this report will also fjnd push the boundaries of what’s possible. We collaborate and consult with industry. be tjme well spent, a truly joint efgort stories they want to share. CQTians In some sense 2019 was like any other of physicists, computer scientjsts and have worked hard for these results. EDUCATION year; research went on, papers were engineers. Our annual report aims not only to published, laser beams were aligned. give updates to our colleagues and We train people from undergraduates to postdoctoral fellows. Our quantum We welcomed David Wilkowski as On the lighter side of science, I must collaborators, but also to inform technologists are skilled in planning and problem-solving, with diverse skills such our new Principal Investigator (see mentjon the Nobel prize, well, OK, those who may find themselves in as coding, circuit design, and systems engineering. Our alumni have moved on pp.17–18) and, in our efforts to the Ig Nobel prize, awarded to Rainer conversatjon with, or even in business to jobs in academia and industry. support quantum startups, we Dumke and his team for their work with, a quantum physicist. I wish you joined forces with SGInnovate (see on the magnetjsatjon of cockroaches. happy reading. pp.21–23). We worked together Whenever scientists come up with with Science Centre Singapore to new technology, that technology is stage the exhibitjon QUANTUM (see likely to fjnd applicatjons we could pp.24–26). The exhibitjon traces the never have predicted at the outset 2 2 3 3

9 “ ” 19 . 7 178 Average citatjons, colloquia staff and all publicatjons and students symposia 180 56 k 12 publicatjons 51 this year users of years CQT’s website old media SCIENCE mentjons N A 1 U Q camp N e for school w s students $ 24 m 21 Principal expenditure Investjgators 5 training workshops 5 for industry quantum spin-offs and startups Exceptional research, projects and people Highlights of CQT's work in quantum technologies in 2019 4 5