Integrating quantum hyperpolarisation in nuclear magnetic resonance systems. This project aims to integrate quantum hyperpolarisation technology into state-of-the-art nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) systems, potentially boosting the signal by several orders of magnitude. Understanding the structure and function of membrane bound peptides and proteins in cells in their native environments is critical in drug development. However, studying these biomolecules by conventional NMR under ambient cond ....Integrating quantum hyperpolarisation in nuclear magnetic resonance systems. This project aims to integrate quantum hyperpolarisation technology into state-of-the-art nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) systems, potentially boosting the signal by several orders of magnitude. Understanding the structure and function of membrane bound peptides and proteins in cells in their native environments is critical in drug development. However, studying these biomolecules by conventional NMR under ambient conditions is challenging due to sensitivity limitations. The technology developed by this project will be a significant step forward in NMR and the new science enabled may have far reaching consequences for the study of peptides and proteins of live cells for the development of new drugs and anti-biotics, with direct societal benefits and flow-on economic benefits.Read moreRead less
Applications and tests of mesoscopic quantum coherence and entanglement. This project aims to probe the nature of quantum reality at the mesoscopic level. Quantum mechanics predicts strange spooky steering effects. Recent experiments have confirmed such nonlocality between two particles. The project's intended outcome is to provide a theoretical backbone to extend these experiments to larger laboratory- based systems. The objective is theory for experiments enabling spooky action to be quantifie ....Applications and tests of mesoscopic quantum coherence and entanglement. This project aims to probe the nature of quantum reality at the mesoscopic level. Quantum mechanics predicts strange spooky steering effects. Recent experiments have confirmed such nonlocality between two particles. The project's intended outcome is to provide a theoretical backbone to extend these experiments to larger laboratory- based systems. The objective is theory for experiments enabling spooky action to be quantified and quantum paradoxes including the notion of parallel universes to be better understood. Anticipated outcomes are the use of quantum nonlocality to provide secure communication and ultra-sensitive measurement capabilities.Read moreRead less
Plasmonic nano-antennas for next-generation photon sources. Extending concepts from standard radio-frequency antenna technology down to the nanoscale will open up new applications in fields from biotechnology to telecommunications. This project will embed a light emitting particle in a nanostructured metallic device to produce an ultrabright, directional single-photon source.
Mesoscopic quantum reality in the light of new technologies. Evidence for the Schrodinger cat that defies macroscopic reality has emerged for systems of several atoms, ions or photons, resulting in a Nobel award in physics in 2012. However, developments in quantum science technology make these states experimentally accessible at an increasingly mesoscopic level. This project will develop a theory to test mesoscopic realism, nonlocality and decoherence in experiment, focusing on cold atom and ion ....Mesoscopic quantum reality in the light of new technologies. Evidence for the Schrodinger cat that defies macroscopic reality has emerged for systems of several atoms, ions or photons, resulting in a Nobel award in physics in 2012. However, developments in quantum science technology make these states experimentally accessible at an increasingly mesoscopic level. This project will develop a theory to test mesoscopic realism, nonlocality and decoherence in experiment, focusing on cold atom and ion trap systems. This project will study multipartite nonlocality based on Bell's theorem, the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox and Schrodinger's quantum steering. As well as having fundamental significance, these demonstrations are potentially useful for metrology, secure quantum cryptography and ultra-sensitive detectors.Read moreRead less
Spinning spins: measuring geometric phases in rotating quantum systems. The quantum geometric phase has long been viewed as an interesting, but somewhat mysterious, feature of quantum mechanics. However, the ability to harness and control geometric phase in individual quantum systems may drive the development of a new class of quantum technologies. This project aims to measure, for the first time, geometric phase due to the macroscopic motion of an atom-scale quantum system, specifically in rota ....Spinning spins: measuring geometric phases in rotating quantum systems. The quantum geometric phase has long been viewed as an interesting, but somewhat mysterious, feature of quantum mechanics. However, the ability to harness and control geometric phase in individual quantum systems may drive the development of a new class of quantum technologies. This project aims to measure, for the first time, geometric phase due to the macroscopic motion of an atom-scale quantum system, specifically in rotating nitrogen-vacancy defects in diamond. It is expected that these proof-of-principle measurements will provide the basis for the future development and design of new nano-scale quantum gyroscopes and set the foundations for using nano-diamonds as rotational diagnostic tools in a range of important nanoscopic systems.Read moreRead less
Controlling spin coherence with rotation. This project aims to harness the ability to control the fundamental interactions which limit the precision of a diamond quantum sensor, enabling more sensitive magnetometry. Quantum sensors are unveiling new insights into nano-scale phenomena. Single atom defects in diamonds have been at the forefront of this revolution in nano-scale sensor technology. A unique capability, spinning diamond quantum sensors at up to 500,000 rpm, fast enough that quantum pr ....Controlling spin coherence with rotation. This project aims to harness the ability to control the fundamental interactions which limit the precision of a diamond quantum sensor, enabling more sensitive magnetometry. Quantum sensors are unveiling new insights into nano-scale phenomena. Single atom defects in diamonds have been at the forefront of this revolution in nano-scale sensor technology. A unique capability, spinning diamond quantum sensors at up to 500,000 rpm, fast enough that quantum properties of the defects are preserved during a cycle has been established. This project will address the long-standing problem of nano-scale solid-materials characterisation using rotationally-enhanced quantum magnetic resonance spectroscopy.Read moreRead less