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
A quantum bus for large-scale diamond quantum computers. This project aims to experimentally demonstrate a device needed to bus quantum information between defect clusters in large scale quantum computers. Quantum computers could transcend limits of today’s ‘classical’ computers. Diamond is a proven platform for small-scale quantum computing and simple quantum algorithms have already been demonstrated using small clusters of diamond defects. To build a large-scale quantum computer that can reali ....A quantum bus for large-scale diamond quantum computers. This project aims to experimentally demonstrate a device needed to bus quantum information between defect clusters in large scale quantum computers. Quantum computers could transcend limits of today’s ‘classical’ computers. Diamond is a proven platform for small-scale quantum computing and simple quantum algorithms have already been demonstrated using small clusters of diamond defects. To build a large-scale quantum computer that can realise the potential of quantum computing, a device must be invented to bus quantum information between defect clusters. This project will experimentally demonstrate physical mechanisms that were theoretically identified for the operation of such a device. This is expected to make a quantum bus for large-scale diamond quantum computers possible.Read moreRead less
Pushing the digital limits in quantum simulation for advanced manufacturing. This Project aims to enhance the power of high-tech quantum simulators to meet the demands of computer-modelling intensive industries such as drug and vaccine design and new energy. Aligned to Australia’s innovation agenda and Advanced Manufacturing priority, the Project expects to maximise the performance of near- and mid-term quantum simulations using innovative quantum programming techniques related to digitisation a ....Pushing the digital limits in quantum simulation for advanced manufacturing. This Project aims to enhance the power of high-tech quantum simulators to meet the demands of computer-modelling intensive industries such as drug and vaccine design and new energy. Aligned to Australia’s innovation agenda and Advanced Manufacturing priority, the Project expects to maximise the performance of near- and mid-term quantum simulations using innovative quantum programming techniques related to digitisation and control. Expected outcomes include: better understanding of limits in industry-scale quantum computers and improved error mitigation techniques. This should generate long-term productivity increases across a range of important sectors of the Australian economy that benefit from access to more powerful computer modelling.Read moreRead less
Electric field imaging of single charges and molecules via spins in diamond. This project aims to build, demonstrate and advance quantum microscopes in Australia. The microscopes are based on the quantum metrology capabilities of nitrogen-vacancy centre defect spins in diamond. The project will use the microscopes to produce nanoscale images of the electric fields of individual electric charges and molecules in ambient conditions. It will then extend the capabilities of the microscopes towards t ....Electric field imaging of single charges and molecules via spins in diamond. This project aims to build, demonstrate and advance quantum microscopes in Australia. The microscopes are based on the quantum metrology capabilities of nitrogen-vacancy centre defect spins in diamond. The project will use the microscopes to produce nanoscale images of the electric fields of individual electric charges and molecules in ambient conditions. It will then extend the capabilities of the microscopes towards the vibrational resonance imaging of single molecules. This project could improve the study of electronic processes in biology and nanotechnology and the structure and properties of complex molecules. It may also enable advances in interdisciplinary research and the development of high-performance materials, nanoelectronic devices and associated industry.Read moreRead less
Propagation and properties of solitonic matterwaves in atomic metamaterials. This project aims to develop and investigate solitonic matter waves interacting with crystals of light, known as optical lattices. Using a unique apparatus, the project plans to investigate how solitonic matter waves propagate in their ground and excited states, how those matter waves interact with each other, and how we can manufacture new optical materials to obtain different, and potentially useful, new behaviour. Al ....Propagation and properties of solitonic matterwaves in atomic metamaterials. This project aims to develop and investigate solitonic matter waves interacting with crystals of light, known as optical lattices. Using a unique apparatus, the project plans to investigate how solitonic matter waves propagate in their ground and excited states, how those matter waves interact with each other, and how we can manufacture new optical materials to obtain different, and potentially useful, new behaviour. Although the proposed studies are purely fundamental in nature, the project has the potential to affect the field of quantum sensors, where solitonic matter waves are predicted to offer gains over traditional atom sources.Read moreRead less
Mechanical control of defect spins in diamond and its applications in quantum technology. This project will demonstrate the mechanical control of optically addressable defect spins in diamond in order to rapidly exploit innovative approaches to quantum technologies, including high sensitivity metrology and information processing. This will be achieved by capitalising on the proven quantum applications of the nitrogen-vacancy defect centre in diamond and the performance of both fundamental inquir ....Mechanical control of defect spins in diamond and its applications in quantum technology. This project will demonstrate the mechanical control of optically addressable defect spins in diamond in order to rapidly exploit innovative approaches to quantum technologies, including high sensitivity metrology and information processing. This will be achieved by capitalising on the proven quantum applications of the nitrogen-vacancy defect centre in diamond and the performance of both fundamental inquiry into the effects of mechanical stress on this centre and the design, fabrication and operation of simple nano-mechanical devices. Read moreRead less
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
Quantum-Inspired Machine Learning. This project aims to develop new machine learning techniques based around the close correspondence between
neural networks used in deep learning, and tensor networks used in quantum physics. Tensor networks are a form of information compression that is useful in machine learning to construct a compact representation of a large data set in a way that is more amenable to understanding the internal structure than a deep neural network. Expected outcomes of this pr ....Quantum-Inspired Machine Learning. This project aims to develop new machine learning techniques based around the close correspondence between
neural networks used in deep learning, and tensor networks used in quantum physics. Tensor networks are a form of information compression that is useful in machine learning to construct a compact representation of a large data set in a way that is more amenable to understanding the internal structure than a deep neural network. Expected outcomes of this project include more resilient algorithms for machine learning, and new ways to represent quantum states that will impact fundamental physics. The resulting benefits include enhanced capacity for cross-discipline collaboration, and improved methods for future industrial applications.
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Non-classical motion of a macroscopic mechanical resonator. This project will create the experimental tools to fully control the motion of a mechanical oscillator at the single-quanta level, opening a rich avenue for fundamental research and the development of quantum physics enhanced applications. This project will prepare a quantum state of a macroscopic mechanical resonator exhibiting quantum interference fringes at at an unprecedented mass scale. The observation of these fringes will enable ....Non-classical motion of a macroscopic mechanical resonator. This project will create the experimental tools to fully control the motion of a mechanical oscillator at the single-quanta level, opening a rich avenue for fundamental research and the development of quantum physics enhanced applications. This project will prepare a quantum state of a macroscopic mechanical resonator exhibiting quantum interference fringes at at an unprecedented mass scale. The observation of these fringes will enable the study of the intricacies of quantum decoherence and ultimately even probe quantum gravitational phenomena. To achieve these goals it will employ micro-scale optical resonators fabricated by established techniques, that also provide the ideal platform for scalable mechanical-oscillator-based quantum information applications.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