NCCR SPIN Newsletter #7 - March 2023
The last months have been full of novelties at NCCR SPIN!
This Newsletter presents 1 new event for PhD students and 1 more to come, 1 one-of-a-kind Quantum Physics & Music Outreach event, 1 open course, 2 new members of the Office, 2 new Mobility Grants and a first Internship Mobility Grant awardee, 3 awardees of prestigious prizes, 3 new INSPIRE Potentials Fellows, 4 recent scientific publications, and 8 upcoming event's dates to save! Have a good reading!
|
|
NCCR SPIN Panel Review 2022
The Panel Review took place last year online on October 31st and November 1st, 2022. The NCCR SPIN PIs and members presented the progress in their work to the Review Panel for the years 2021-2022. A poster session was organized, where the Review Panel members could choose and navigate between virtual poster presentations animated by the researchers.
The NCCR SPIN Review Panel Visit 2023 will take place in person on November 16-17th, 2023.
|
|
The First NCCR SPIN PhD Lunch
The Young Researchers Forum organised the first NCCR SPIN PhD Lunch which took place on November 16th, 2022 at the University of Basel. During the event, the PhD students of the NCCR SPIN network connected with each other, exchanged ideas and learned about the quantum experiments conducted at the Physics Department.
As part of the program, the young researchers attended an intensive workshop to train their skills in public speaking and to learn how to deliver a successful scientific presentation.
The workshop “Impactful Speeches for Scientific Talks” led by speaking and communication trainer Michael Berndonner was structured into two sessions. During the morning session, the instructor presented a number of tools and strategies to devise coherent and engaging speeches. These span from rhetoric strategies, to the use of intonation, body posture, mimics and gesture. The afternoon session was a practical and interactive training where the students implemented the techniques learned on their own speeches and improved their delivery based on the live feedback of the instructor.
NCCR SPIN wants to thank all the participants for their active engagement which made the PhD Lunch a very special and stimulating event, and is happy to invite its PhD students for a retreat in Engelberg on April 24-26, 2023.
|
|
Nano-MOSFET–Foundation of Quantum Computing Part I
XIao Xue, Pascal 't Hart*, Edoardo Charbon, FabIo SebastIano, and Andrei Vladimirescu, IEEE Nanotechnology Magazine (2023). DOI: 10.1109/MNANO.2022.3228097
As big strides were being made in many science fields in the 1970s and 80s, faster computation for solving problems in molecular biology, semiconductor technology, aeronautics, particle physics, etc., was at the forefront of research. Parallel and super-computers were introduced, which enabled problems of a higher level of complexity to be solved. At about the same time, Nobel-laureate physicist Richard Feynman launched what seemed at the time a wild idea; to build a computer based on quantum physics concepts such as superposition and entanglement. The outrageousness of his ideas is documented in the book “Surely, You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman”.
|
|
A generalizable TCAD framework for silicon FinFET spin qubit devices with electrical control
Qian Ding, Andreas V. Kuhlmann, Andreas Fuhrer, Andreas Schenk, Solid-State Electronics 200, 108550 (2023).
The authors present a TCAD-based simulation framework established for quantum dot spin qubits in a silicon FinFET platform with all-electrical control of the spin state. The framework works down to 1 K and consists of a two-step simulation chain, from definition of the quantum dot confinement potential with DC bias voltages, to calculation of microwave response electric field at qubit locations using small-signal AC analysis. An average field polarization vector at each quantum dot is extracted via a post-processing step. The authors demonstrate functionality of this approach by simulation of a recently reported two-qubit device in the form of a 5-gate silicon FinFET. The impact of the number of holes in each quantum dot on the MW response -field polarization direction is further investigated for this device. The framework is easily generalizable to study future multi-qubit large-scale systems.
|
|
Two-qubit logic with anisotropic exchange in a fin field-effect transistor
Simon Geyer, Bence Hetényi, Stefano Bosco, Leon C. Camenzind, Rafael S. Eggli, Andreas Fuhrer, Daniel Loss, Richard J. Warburton, Dominik M. Zumbühl, Andreas V. Kuhlmann, arxiv:2212.02308 (Dec. 2022)
Semiconductor spin qubits offer a unique opportunity for scalable quantum computation by leveraging classical transistor technology. Hole spin qubits benefit from fast all-electrical qubit control and sweet spots to counteract charge and nuclear spin noise. The demonstration of a two-qubit quantum gate in a silicon fin field-effect transistor, that is, the workhorse device of today's semiconductor industry, has remained an open challenge. The authors demonstrate a controlled rotation two-qubit gate on hole spins in an industry-compatible device. A short gate time of 24 ns is achieved. The quantum logic exploits an exchange interaction that can be tuned from above 500 MHz to close-to-off. Significantly, the exchange is strikingly anisotropic. By developing a general theory, the authors show that the anisotropy arises as a consequence of a strong spin-orbit interaction. Upon tunnelling from one quantum dot to the other, the spin is rotated by almost 90 degrees. The exchange Hamiltonian no longer has Heisenberg form and is engineered in such a way that there is no trade-off between speed and fidelity of the two-qubit gate. This ideal behaviour applies over a wide range of magnetic field orientations rendering the concept robust with respect to variations from qubit to qubit. This work brings hole spin qubits in silicon transistors a step closer to the realization of a large-scale quantum computer.
|
|
Quantum error correction using squeezed Schrödinger cat states
David S. Schlegel, Fabrizio Minganti, and Vincenzo Savona, Phys. Rev. A 106, 022431 (2022)
Bosonic quantum codes redundantly encode quantum information in the states of a quantum harmonic oscillator, making it possible to detect and correct errors. Schrödinger cat codes—based on the superposition of two coherent states with opposite displacements—can correct phase-flip errors induced by dephasing, but they are vulnerable to bit-flip errors induced by particle loss. The authors develop a bosonic quantum code relying on squeezed cat states, i.e., cat states made of a linear superposition of displaced-squeezed states. Squeezed cat states allow to partially correct errors caused by particle loss, while at the same time improving the protection against dephasing. They present a comprehensive analysis of the squeezed cat code, including protocols for code generation and elementary quantum gates. They characterize the effect of both particle loss and dephasing and develop an optimal recovery protocol that is suitable to be implemented on currently available quantum hardware. They show that with moderate squeezing, and using typical parameters of state-of-the-art quantum hardware platforms, the squeezed cat code has a resilience to particle loss errors that significantly outperforms that of the conventional cat code.
|
|
Three new women Master's students awarded INSPIRE Potentials fellowships
Twice a year, the INSPIRE Potentials Fellowship financially supports women Master's students who would like to pursue their Master's thesis in one of the NCCR SPIN research teams. This year, the jury decided to award three women with outstanding backgrounds: Anna Efimova, Jessica Richter and Caroline Tornow. Congratulations and welcome to all of them! We wish them a productive and wonderful time at NCCR SPIN!
The next deadline for applications to INSPIRE Potentials fellowships is May 1st, 2023. Consult our webpage for more information on the conditions and application procedure.
|
|
Anna Efimova
After a Bachelor in Physics at the Faculty of Physics at the M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anna Efimova pursues her Master's studies in the Physics Department of ETH Zurich. She started her Master's thesis in January 2023 in the Quantum Device laboratory led by Prof. Wallraff, and supervised by Dr. Simon Storz.
|
|
|
Jessica Richter
Jessica Richter earned her Bachelor of Science in Physics at the Humboldt University of Berlin in September 2023. She is now pursuing her Master's degree at ETH Zurich. She will do her Master's thesis in the Quantum Technology Group at IBM Research Zurich, supervised by Dr. Andreas Fuhrer starting on the 01.03.2023. Her research project will tackle hole-spin qubits.
|
|
|
Caroline Tornow
Caroline Tornow obtained her Bachelor's degree in Physics at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich, before enrolling for her Master's studies in Quantum Engineering at ETH Zurich. She will perform her Master's thesis in the Quantum Applications Research & Software group at IBM Research Zurich, supervised by Dr. Ivano Tavernelli, Dr. Daniel Egger (IBM Research), and Dr. Joseph Renes (ETH Zurich) starting on the 27.02.2023.
|
|
|
New NCCR SPIN Mobility Grants open new horizons for young researchers
This year, in addition to our previous Mobility Grants for PhD and Postdocs within the SPIN network, the Mobility Program has been expanded with two new grant schemes: the Internship Mobility Grant for Master’s students and Mobility Grants for PhD and Postdocs who are non-members of NCCR SPIN and who want to perform their research studies in one of the NCCR SPIN teams. They are shortly described below.
The applications are evaluated on a competitive and rolling basis. All the details about the Mobility Program and the application procedure can be found on our dedicated page. Apply now!
|
|
Internship Mobility Grant
-
For non-SPIN Master students
-
For a stay in a SPIN lab between 3 weeks and 9 months
-
800 CHF/month if your home institution is in Switzerland
-
1200 CHF/month + up to 2000 CHF of travel costs (one round trip) if your home institution is outside of Switzerland
|
|
|
Swiss Mobility Grant
-
For PhD students and Postdocs
-
From Switzerland to Switzerland
-
For a stay between 1 week and 3 months in a host team in Switzerland
-
1000 CHF/month if your host institution is not in the same canton as your home institution
-
500 CHF/month if your host institution is in the same canton as your home institution
|
|
|
International Mobility Grant
-
For PhD students and Postdocs
-
From Switzerland to abroad and vice versa
-
For a stay in a host team between 2 weeks and 4 months
-
1600 CHF/month + 200 CHF/family member + up to 2000 CHF of travel costs (one round trip) if your home institution is outside of Switzerland
|
|
|
Meet Carlos Dos Santos, first NCCR SPIN Internship Mobility Grant awardee
Carlos Dos Santos is currently enrolled in the second year of his Master's degree in Quantum Information and Quantum Engineering at the University Grenoble Alpes, France. From February 2023 until September 2023, he will conduct his Master's thesis project supervised by Dr. Andreas Kuhlmann at the Department of Physics of the University of Basel, in the Nano-photonics group.
|
|
|
Open Course: Spin-based quantum information processing
Quantum mechanics was first developed about a hundred years ago and has since become one of the great overarching theories. Remarkably, quantum-mechanical principles such as superposition and entanglement enable novel types of computer, quantum computers, capable of solving otherwise intractable problems.
In the course “Spin-based Quantum Information Processing: Qubit Platforms”, semiconductor spins and their use for quantum information processing will be discussed. Basic operations of one and two qubits, keeping an eye on how to implement them in semiconducting devices will be reviewed. The course will focus on spin qubits in quantum dots, and on standard industry materials silicon and germanium, currently among the most promising platforms for a large-scale quantum computer.
Basic ideas will be analyzed, coupling qubits and prospects for scaling and integration will be discussed, and the state-of-the-art including current research topics will be introduced.
This course is open to anyone who is interested, and is tailored to Master and PhD students with theoretical or experimental background, aiming to widen their perspectives into the fast-growing field of spin-based quantum information processing.
Course information:
When? In the Spring Semester 2023, starting on 23.02.2023. The lectures take place on Thursdays at 4:15 pm, and the exercise sessions on Fridays at 2:00 pm
Where? Online (you receive the link after your enrolment for the course)
Credits: 4 credit points, weekly assignments, grade 1-6
Lecturers: Stefano Bosco (stefano.bosco@unibas.ch) & colleagues from the NCCR SPIN network
Enrolment: Please register through this form (or through the Unibas service portal if you are enrolled at the University of Basel). The course starts on 23.02.2023, but registrations are open until 16.03.2023.
Do you have a question? Please email: spin.qubit.basel.2023@gmail.com
|
|
Awards and promotions
Congratulations to Dr. Maria Longobardi for being elected APS Fellow 2022 and to and Dr. Heike Riel for receiving the 2022 IEEE Andrew S. Grove Award! Those two prestigious distinctions highlight the careers of two brilliant women actively shaping the landscape of quantum physics. Congratulations as well to our NCCR SPIN director, Prof. Dominik Zumbühl on his appointment to full professor at the Department of Physics of the University of Basel as of the spring semester 2023!
|
|
Maria Longobardi elected American Physical Society Fellow for 2022
The APS Fellowship Program recognizes outstanding individuals in the physics community who have contributed to advances in physics through original research, innovative applications, teaching, and leadership. Maria Longobardi was awarded this prestigious recognition “for the support and promotion of early-career scientists and international relationships through unflagging efforts to bring people together and publicize high-quality research from all corners of the world.“
|
|
|
A full professorship for Dominik Zumbühl
Prof. Dr. Dominik Zumbühl is appointed to full professor at the Department of Physics of the University of Basel as of the spring semester 2023! Dominik Zumbühl has held the position of assistant professor with tenure track at the Faculty of Science in 2006 and was promoted to Associate Professor of Experimental Physics in 2012. He is an experimental physicist in condensed matter, and his research focuses on transport experiments and spin physics in semiconductor quantum dots.
|
|
|
Heike Riel wins the IEEE Andrew S. Grove Award 2022
Our Vice Director, Dr. Heike Riel from IBM, has won the prestigious 2022 IEEE Andrew S. Grove Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to solid-state devices and technology. The award is sponsored by the IEEE Electron Devices Society, which promotes excellence in the field. She was awarded “for contributions to materials for nanoscale electronics and organic light-emitting devices.”
|
|
|
The NCCR SPIN Office strengthens its team
Dr. Carmen Pietropaolo and Dr. Marie Le Dantec joined the NCCR SPIN Office on August 15, 2022. Marie took up the Communication and Outreach Officer position and Carmen, the Communication and Knowledge and Technology Transfer area.
|
|
Carmen Pietropaolo
Carmen Pietropaolo earned her Ph.D. in Psycholinguistics and Quantitative Linguistics at the University of Freiburg. She completed her post-doc at the University of Düsseldorf where she became scientific coordinator and PI for a cross-functional project on the structure and representation of thought in language. She is currently taking care of her new born baby, and will be back in our team in June 2023.
|
|
|
Marie Le Dantec
Marie Le Dantec is a scientist and a visual communication designer. She obtained her engineering degree in micro- and nanotechnologies from Phelma Grenoble INP in 2013 and her PhD in materials science from EMPA/EPFL in 2018. Then, she pursued a Master of Arts in Visual Communication at the Zurich University of the Arts (2021).
|
|
|
05.-10.03.2023
APS March Meeting 2023
March 5-10, 2023, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
More info: https://march.aps.org/
|
|
25.03.2023
Tinguely Entangled - Quantum Physics meets Music!
NCCR SPIN is pleased to announce a one of a kind event combining for the very first time live music and quantum physics. “Tinguely Entangled” is an audiovisual performance organized in partnership with the Basel Infinity Music Festival 2023. The Museum Tinguely in Basel will serve as the stage for bright young scientists of NCCR SPIN who will entertain and inform the public about key topics in quantum physics. They will be put into an original piece of music by young star composer Linda Leimane, while artists Arthurs Punte and Luca Scarzella will animate the performance with visual arts.
The concert will be followed by an apero where scientists from NCCR SPIN will interact with the audience and answer their burning questions on quantum physics. Secure your tickets for the event on https://buff.ly/3PFL2xq
Tinguely Entangled
March 25th, 2023 at 19h30
Museum Tinguely, Basel
Tickets:
30 CHF Normal price
20 CHF NCCR Price, using the corresponding reduction code
20 CHF Reduced price (under 28 years old)
Apero included in the ticket price
Free choice of seats
Tickets can be purchased here
|
|
27.-28.03.2023
US-Switzerland Quantum Symposium
The US-Switzerland Quantum symposium 2023 will take place at uptownBasel Infinity AG in Arlesheim by Basel from March 27-28th, 2023.
The event brings almost 20 international academic speakers in quantum computing who will give insights into their research and how they are trying to bring quantum computing to a whole new level. Young scientists are especially welcome. Participation is free of charge.
|
|
14.04.2023
World Quantum Day
The World Quantum Day, celebrated on 14 April, is an initiative from quantum scientists from 65+ countries, aiming at promoting the public understanding of Quantum Science and Quantum Technology around the World.
It is a decentralized and bottom-up initiative, inviting all scientists, engineers, educators, communicators, entrepreneurs, technologists, historians, philosophers, artists, museologists, producers, etc., and their organisations, to develop their own activities, such as outreach talks, exhibitions, lab tours, panel discussions, interviews, artistic creations, etc., to celebrate the World Quantum Day around the World.
The World Quantum Day was officially launched in 2022, with 200+ events, in 5 continents, in 44+ countries, 193+ cities, in 17+ different languages.
This year the World Quantum Day aims at reaching an even wider audience, and encourages you to organise your own event, in your country/city/organisation, in your language, and celebrate all domains of Quantum Science, including atomic and molecular physics, high-energy physics, condensed-matter physics, astrophysics, cosmology, quantum gravity, quantum plasmas, quantum optics, quantum information science, quantum computer science, quantum metrology, quantum engineering, quantum chemistry, quantum thermodynamics, quantum foundations, etc., as well as their history, their mathematical foundations, their technological applications, and their philosophical and societal implications.
Create and submit your own event and join the celebration!
|
|
24.-26.04.2023
NCCR SPIN PhD Students Retreat
The Young Researchers Forum invites NCCR SPIN PhD students to its first PhD Students Retreat at Ski Lodge in Engelberg from April 24-26, 2023.
The event is designed for PhD students from all NCCR SPIN groups, both full and associate members, to have the opportunity to present their research to their peers during scheduled talks and a poster session. The students will be able to strengthen their network by spending time together through leisure activities and meeting invited industrial sponsors. Additionally, the NCCR SPIN will provide a soft skills training workshop on storytelling and message distilling for scientists, and an innovation talk.
|
|
19.-21.06.2023
NCCR SPIN Annual Meeting 2023
The NCCR SPIN Annual Meeting 2023 will take place in Pontresina, on June 19-21 2023.
|
|
04.-08.09.2023
Joint Annual Meeting of SPS and ÖPG
The next annual meeting, as every two years jointly with colleagues from the Austrian Physical Society, will take place from 4 - 8 September 2023 at the "Kollegienhaus" of the Universität Basel.
From Tuesday to Friday, renowned speakers will give talks in the plenary sessions, while the parallel sessions will allow in depth discussions in several topical fields. A poster exhibition will complement the scientific program. NCCR SPIN will organize the Quantum Computing session of the meeting.
Quantum Computing session (by NCCR SPIN)
The Quantum Computing session will combine presentations on recent scientific advances in the field of quantum computing with various qubit platforms. Contributions from ion traps, neutral atoms, superconducting qubits, spin qubits and other hardware platforms are welcome, as well as presentations that address progress on scalable qubit control, error correction, novel quantum algorithms and software applications. Both Austria and Switzerland are important players in this thriving area of research with many groups contributing to European and other important international research programs.
Deadline Abstract Submission: 01. May 2023
Deadline Registration: 15. August 2023
|
|
16.-17.11.2023
NCCR SPIN Review Panel Visit 2023
The NCCR SPIN Review Panel Visit 2023 will take place in person on November 16-17th, 2023.
|
|
|
|
