10.8 million kroner for research into quantum information technology

Two researchers, Mark Rudner and Michael J. Kastoryano from the Niels Bohr Institute, have received support from the VILLUM FOUNDATION’s Young Investigator Programme for research into quantum information technology.

Mark Rudner, PhD in condensed matter physics has received a grant of 7 million kroner for the research project: ’Quantum mechanical dynamics out of equilibrium’. 

"The aim of my research is to identify new robust quantum phenomena. With the development of a greater theoretical understanding of the properties of materials, new opportunities are opened for a wide range of applications, including in quantum information technology. For example, a unique new material has been discovered that acts as insulator on the inside, but conducts electricity on the outside.  In addition to understanding the quantum mechanical properties of the material, I am working to find new ways in which modern tools such as lasers or microwave fields can be used to control these exciting properties dynamically, or ‘on demand’. I am also trying to find out how these technologies can help us discover new and even more exotic and potentially useful phenomena,” says Mark Rudner, who goes on to explain that fundamental studies of the quantum mechanical properties of macroscopic systems may one day be used to help create error-resistant quantum computers.

The Young Investigator grant is a five-year grant and makes it possible to establish a new research environment consisting of 2 PhD students, 3 postdocs, as well as lively exchange programme with international partners. Mark Rudner will be connected to the Niels Bohr International Academy and the Center for Quantum Devices at the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen. 

Michael J. Kastoryano, PhD in theoretical quantum physics from the Niels Bohr Institute has received a grant of 3.8 million kroner for the research project: ‘Dissipative manipulation of topological systems’.

“Quantum computers and quantum simulations hold the promise for great tremendous practical applications. A quantum state is usually fragile upon interaction with an environment, but new research shows that you can control the interaction with the environment and thus use it to prepare a desired state. The aim of this project is to combine these new results with more established methods of error correction in order to study so-called topological systems,” explains Michael Kastoryano, who aspires to design a model of a quantum mechanical hard drive and it is stabile despite the degradation of a quantum state due to 'noise', as the degradation of a quantum state is called.     .

The grant from the Villum Foundation makes it possible to hire a postdoc and provide Michael Kastoryano’s own salary for three years. The research project will take place at the Niels Bohr International Academy under the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen.

The VILLUM FOUNDATION Young Investigator Programme was established in 2011 to provide funding for young researchers and accelerate their research careers. This year, 20 researchers from five Danish universities have received a total of 95 million kroner. They will formally receive the honours at the annual presentation of the Villum Kann Rasmussen awards for Scientific Research on Thursday, 23 January 2014. 

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