QUROPE Quantum Information Processing and Communication in Europe

Rare-earth-doped laser materials show strong prospects for quantum information storage and processing, as well as for biological imaging, due to their high-Q 4f↔4f optical transitions. However, the inability to optically detect single rare-earth dopants has prevented these materials from reaching their full potential.

The detection of single nuclear spins would be useful for fields ranging from basic science to quantum information technology. However, although sensing based on diamond defects and other methods have shown high sensitivity, they have not been capable of detecting single nuclear spins, and defect-based techniques further require strong defect–spin coupling. Here, we present the detection and identification of single and remote 13C nuclear spins embedded in nuclear spin baths surrounding a single electron spin of a nitrogen-vacancy centre in diamond.

Lately, fluorescence quenching microscopy (FQM) has been introduced as a new tool to visualize graphene-based sheets.

We demonstrate the coupling of single color centers in diamond to plasmonic and dielectric photonic structures to realize novel nanophotonic devices. Nanometer spatial control in the creation of single color centers in diamond is achieved by implantation of nitrogen atoms through high-aspect-ratio channels in a mica mask. Enhanced broadband single-photon emission is demonstrated by coupling nitrogen–vacancy centers to plasmonic resonators, such as metallic nanoantennas.

Per Delsing was appointed to Wallenberg Schoolar 2013.

Using nanotechnology he makes superconducting circuits, where he is studying quantum physics of electrons, photons and phonons. The research focuses on how the circuits can be engineered to manipulate these particles behavior in the quantum world.

Christopher Wilson was awarded the prize by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for his demonstration of the dynamical Casimir effect with an innovative use of SQUID circuits to construct relativistic boundary conditions.