Translating
the findings of quantum research into specific applications calls for a variety
of disciplines to work closely together. Credit: ETH Zurich / Heidi Hostettler.
Quantum
research has long since ceased to be an exclusive domain of physics. The
purpose of the new ETH Quantum Center is to ensure ETH Zurich’s various
competences and activities in this area are networked even more closely and to
raise their public profile.
Quantum
research is one of the most promising research areas being pursued today. The
hope is that the principles of quantum mechanics will trigger pioneering
breakthroughs in a variety of fields, leading to new applications. These fields
include computing, sensor technology, communication and data security.
Quantum
research is of great importance to ETH Zurich, where a significant number of
professorships are now investigating quantum physics and quantum technologies.
Although the Department of Physics is still home to a majority of quantum
scientists, they are playing an increasingly prominent role in other departments
as well.
Foray into
new fields
The
expectation of new applications is a major reason why quantum research is
gaining a foothold in an increasing number of departments. Harnessing the
abstract phenomena of quantum mechanics for specific applications calls for
more than just theoretical and experimental physicists. They must also be
joined by engineers to attend to the electronics, nanofabrication, new
materials or process scalability, and by computer scientists to develop the
required programming approaches, without which the new technologies would be
useless.
“The
engineers are tasked with translating knowledge into technology,†says Lukas
Novotny, Professor of Photonics at the Department of Information Technology and
Electrical Engineering. “But at the same time, science is also being advanced
by new technologies – now more than ever. This is why it’s essential that
physics and the engineering sciences collaborate on quantum research.â€
New degree
programme and professorships
Already
well set up to pursue quantum research, ETH Zurich plans to further expand its
activities over the next few years. Last autumn, the university launched a new
Quantum Engineering Master’s programme. And as part of the ETH+ initiative on
quantum research, the recruitment process recently began for two new
professorships – one for quantum computing at the Department of Computer
Science, the other for experimental quantum technology in collaboration with
the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI.
At the
same time, ETH Zurich wants to bring the individual players in this field
closer together. For this reason, and also as part of the ETH+ initiative, the
university has founded the new ETH Quantum Center, which will bring together
ETH’s different disciplines under one roof. In total, 28 professorships from 6
departments and from PSI have already joined the new center. “These numbers are
themselves enough to illustrate the how diverse ETH Zurich’s competences in
quantum research are,†says Andreas Wallraff, Professor of Solid State Physics.
Novotny adds: “The ETH Quantum Center fosters collaboration among researchers
from different departments and specialist areas. This enables us to leverage
synergies in the development of quantum technologies.â€
But the
physicists and electrical engineers are not the only ones expecting great
things from closer collaboration: the computer scientists also have high hopes.
“Quantum information processing is still in its infancy,†explains Kenny
Paterson, Professor of Applied Cryptography. “It has the potential to
revolutionise computer science, but the only way to realise this fully is
through an interdisciplinary approach.†Especially in his discipline of
cryptography, Paterson is hoping that working with physicists will lead to some
stimulating insights.
A distinct
public presence
The
center’s initiators are particularly focused on the medium term: with the Swiss
National Centre of Competence in Research for Quantum Science and Technology
(NCCR QSIT) closing at the end of 2022, the new ETH Quantum Center is now set
to take over some of its functions. A top priority is to forge a public
presence: “Over the past 20 years, a great many outstanding quantum scientists
have come together in various departments at ETH Zurich. In contrast to other
universities, their collective presence at ETH has until now been rather
understated,†Wallraff says. “If we want to be seen as a major player in this
field by national and international research authorities, industry and
mainstream media, we need a distinct and recognisable joint presence.â€
A specific
example of this is positioning ETH Zurich to be even more successful in
securing European funding to pursue quantum technology. And when it comes to
future collaborative projects with industry or third-​​party fundraising, ETH will
benefit from being able to present the full breadth of its expertise under the
umbrella of the new Quantum Center. “ETH already offers first-​​rate quantum
research and will position itself globally as an even more powerful driving
force in future,†Wallraff says. “We want to work together with the new center
to achieve this goal.â€