WG3 Nanoscale quantum coherence.

Quantum coherence phenomena such as entanglement lie at the heart quantum science and technology and they represent the basis, for instance, for quantum information & computation, quantum metrology and energy transfer in light-harvesting complexes.

  • Investigate quantum coherence properties of nano-materials and combine them with photonic nano-structures to enhance and control quantum coherent dynamics and phenomena, such as entanglement creation and distribution.
  • Study coherence of nanophotonic quantum states such as surface plasmons, polaritons and excitons in a variety of different implementations.
  • Elucidate the role of couplings in excitonic/electronic motion in molecular and solidstate environments with particular emphasis on the presence of long-lived vibrations/phonons in these processes. This will require new detection technologies that will be developed in the Action and promise to have an impact on our understanding of the function of biological systems going well beyond transport in photosynthesis including charges separation and the function of proteins.
  • The development of new experimental methods, based on the possibility to enhance the spatio-temporal resolution with nanostructures, would allow the investigation of quantum transport phenomena in complex systems with unprecedented insight. For example, the investigation of these effects in natural and artificial light-harvesting complexes and accompanying reaction centres, which transform light into electric energy with highest efficiency.
  • Development of new concepts for diamond-based sensors, with ground-breaking features for applications in environmental and biomedical optics. Nanophotonic structures will enhance the optical readout and boost the device sensitivity, e.g. by combining nanodiamond with plasmonic structures. Explore new systems beyond the NV centre, which currently suffers from instability in single-digit diamond nanocrystals.