News

Picture (Paderborn University, Sascha Hohmann): Students from Hüffertgymnasium Warburg and Gymnasium Marianum Warburg creating "holograms".

On May 28, a total of 14 ninth and tenth grade students from Hüffertgymnasium Warburg and Gymnasium Marianum Warburg came to Paderborn University to attend a workshop on holography as part of a program to promote gifted students. In addition to a short lecture on holography and holograms, they also made their own small holograms for their smartphones. Research at the university was also on show: Together with the Institute for Photonic Quantum…

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Picture (Paderborn University, B. Brecht): Impressions from the Quantum Information Spring School "Photonic Quantum Technologies".

Dr. Benjamin Brecht and Prof. Jan Sperling were invited speakers at the Quantum Information Spring School "Photonic Quantum Technologies" in Les Houches, France. While Jan Sperling introduced the concepts underlying multimode quantum correlations, Benjamin Brecht gave an introduction to the nitty gritty details of parametric down-conversion in the optics lab. Both presentations were well received and sparked numerous inspiring discussions with…

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Image (Paderborn University, K. Türk): The PhoQS project HedwiQ was represented at HANNOVER MESSE 2024. The first implementation ideas for the project were presented. A survey was also carried out on the graphic realization of the learning material associated with the project.

This year's HANNOVER MESSE took place from April 22nd to 26th. Over 130,000 visitors were able to impressively experience how innovative technologies can be used now and in the future in business and society.1 As part of the joint stand "Your Quantum Future", the BMBF initiatives "Quantum Futur Education" and "Quantum Aktiv" were also represented at HANNOVER MESSE – including the PhoQS project HedwiQ. The scientists involved presented the…

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Picture (Paderborn University, A. Khanda): The kickoff meeting of the recently founded Optica Student Chapter was opened by Franz Roeder.

Optica Student Chapter opened at Paderborn University A new Optica Student Chapter recently opened at Paderborn University. With the successful application, undergraduate and graduate students can now assemble in the Chapter for exchange, social gatherings, workshops, invited lectures and other activities. The Chapter’s vision is to form a vibrant exchange among students in optics and photonics across Paderborn University, as well as to increase…

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Figure (Paderborn University, B. Brecht): A nonlinear optical waveguide and a spectral pulse shaper realize a frequency-encoded network.

We have demonstrated that a single nonlinear optical waveguide and a spectral pulse shaper can be used to realize frequency-encoded networks with up to 64 inputs and outputs. In our experiment, a bright laser pulse with a shaped complex spectrum is used to realize networks in a so-called quantum pulse gate. The spectrum of the laser pulse defines the structure of the network as well as the output that we look at. By changing the spectrum, we…

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Bild (Universität Paderborn, Jennifer Krüger): Neun Schülerinnen nahmen am diesjährigen Girls'Day teil.

Auch im Jahr 2024 hat das Department Physik der Universität Paderborn wieder am Girls'Day mitgemacht und neun interessierten Schülerinnen einen Einblick in die Funktion von Hologrammen, in das Studium und in die Forschung gegeben. Hologramme kennt man vor allem aus Science Fiction Filmen - im diesjährigen Girls'Day konnten die Teilnehmerinnen aber ein eigenes, kleines Hologramm bauen, das mithilfe eines Handyvideos läuft. Was man in der…

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Photograph (University of Paderborn, J. Babai-Hemati): Lithium niobate sample with periodically poled waveguides as an integrated optical frequency doubler. With the help of micro-heaters temperature profiles can be specifically adjusted to improve the efficiency of the conversion process.

How micro-heaters can be used to specifically improve the efficiency and spectral characteristics of non-linear processes. Nonlinear frequency conversion, such as second harmonic generation, is widely used in various areas of photonics. Conversion based on χ(2)-nonlinear optical interactions can be very efficient in waveguide structures. In practice, however, the ideal properties are limited due to inhomogeneities along the interaction range,…

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Picture (Paderborn University): Participants of the HedwiQ Kickoff-Meeting, from left to right: Christopher Buchholz, Marc Peters (Atrineo AG), Marc Ebert, Prof. Dr. Klaus Jöns, PD Dr. Sonja Barkhofen, Dr. Jennifer Krüger, Dr. Hermann Kahle. Missing in the picture: Prof. Dr. Katrin Temmen and Dr. Simone Klein (VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH).

The official kick-off meeting of the project HedwiQ – Heranführung der Generation Z an die Denkweise in der Quantenphysik took place on 11 March 2024. After a joint lunch, the project participants exchanged views on the various focal points of the HedwiQ project. On the one hand, there was an information block in which quantum research at Paderborn University and the promotion of young talent and outreach at the Institute for Photonic Quantum…

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On the evening of 7 March, the PhoQS institute welcomed 25 members of the Lionsclub Paderborn-Carolus. After a lecture on quantum technologies by Prof. Dr. Christine Silberhorn, PhoQS members gave insights into current research topics via guided laboratory tours and a poster presentation. All participants were very interested in the research activities of PhoQS.

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Image (Paderborn University, Nils Heinisch et al.): High-quality photon generation with quantum emitter cavity systems.

Swing-up dynamics in quantum emitter cavity systems: Near ideal single photons and entangled photon pairs On-demand generation of high-quality photon states is key for implementing quantum information processing protocols.  For high brightness deterministic photon sources, such as semiconductor quantum dots placed inside an optical resonator, emitter re-excitation is one of the problems undermining the quality of generated photons. In the…

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Image (Paderborn University, Maximilian Protte and Timon Schapeler): Phase-dependent nonlinear quadrature operator for the vacuum state and a weak coherent state.

Have you ever thought of using superconducting single-photon detectors for homodyne detection? In their newest publication, Maximilian Protte and Timon Schapeler from the group Mesoscopic Quantum Optics show how superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) can be used to study the continuous variables of optical quantum states using homodyne detection. From the joint click statistics of two SNSPDs, they measured the phase-dependent…

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More than 10 million euros in EU funding for large-scale research project Scientists at Paderborn University want to develop a photonic quantum computer with international partners by the end of 2026. The project with the evocative title "EPIQUE" (European Photonic Quantum Computer) is currently one of the most ambitious research projects in the field of German and European quantum research. The European Commission is supporting the consortium,…

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On January 18th, students from the Q1 physics advanced course of the Pelizaeus-Gymnasium Paderborn spent a day at Paderborn University. After a short introduction about research at PhoQS, the participants were able to enjoy an interactive physics lecture by Dr Christof Eigner. During laboratory tours, they also gained an insight into the day-to-day research work of our PhoQS members. Finally, the students received general information about…

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Symbolic image (Paderborn University, Besim Mazhiqi): Prof Dr Sevag Gharibian has published an invited guest article in ACM SIGACT News.

Prof Dr Sevag Gharibian, head of the Quantum Informatics group in Computer Science, has published an invited guest article in ACM SIGACT News. Gharibian addresses a broad audience of theoretical computer scientists and thematises quantum generalizations of NP (non-deterministic polynomial time), with NP a cornerstone of classical complexity theory. With the statement "Quantum NP [...] is clearly the apple that fell far from the tree of NP.", he…

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Symbolic image (Paderborn University, Besim Mazhiqi): Experimenting and experiencing quantum effects and their applications.

Scientists at Paderborn University are working with Atrineo AG to set up an extracurricular meeting and educational centre for quantum technologies as part of the joint project "Heranführung der Generation Z an die Denkweise in der Quantenphysik" (Introducing Generation Z to the quantum physics mindset; HedwiQ). The so-called Generation Z predominantly refers to young adults who were born between 1997 and 2012. The project, which is being funded…

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