Welcome to ‘Bits Of Quantum’, the official blog by QuTech! QuTech is an academic research institution that houses many scientists who spend a large part of their time doing mathematics, experiments, and a lot of quantum mechanics. We would like to share bits of our quantum research with you, and give you a taste of what life in a large research institute is like. To that end we, PhD students from different parts of QuTech, started the blog you are looking at right now. As the editorial team we are very excited about channeling all the stories that can be told by and about QuTech and quantum technologies. Thank you for reading this blog and we hope you enjoy reading the many posts to come!

Regards,

The editorial team,
Anne-Marije, Guan, Tim, Matteo and Adriaan

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Adriaan Rol – Hi, I am Adriaan, an experimentalist in Leo DiCarlo’s group where we are working on a quantum computer based on superconducting transmon qubits.
I really enjoy trying to find the (abstract) essence of things while at the same time being able to experimentally test if my ideas actually work.
Whenever I’m not in the lab you’ll probably find me on the water or enjoying an overpriced coffee at my favourite coffee place.

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Guanzhong Wang – My name is Guanzhong Wang (feel free to call me Guan when you meet me in or out of the lab) and I’m a PhD student in the group of Leo Kouwenhoven. I work on one of the more unusual approaches to building a quantum computer here in QuTech – using what’s called a topological qubit. I hope through our posts I’ll be able to convince you this is a truly challenging yet worthwhile endeavor that embodies both mathematical and engineering beauty. Happy reading!

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Anne-Marije Zwerver – Hi! My name is Anne-Marije and I’m a PhD candidate in the Vandersypen lab, where we are able to catch and control single electrons for the purpose of quantum computation. I am absolutely fascinated by quantum mechanics and it is a great adventure to work with bits of quantum daily and stretch up the boundaries of what we know and can do nowadays. Also, I love speed skating, philosophy and hanging out with friends. Enjoy the blog!

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Tim Coopmans – I am Tim, a PhD student in the group of David Elkouss and Stephanie Wehner. I work on the quantum internet as a theorist, in particular on bridging the gap between theoretical proposals for its design and the hardware that is currently built in the lab. I am a big fan of jazz music and far-fetched puns – not necessarily in that order.

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Matteo Pompili – Hi, I am Matteo, a PhD student in Ronald Hanson’s group. I am trying to build a quantum internet — a network made with quantum entanglement — using defects in Diamond. I like dogs and lasers. But mostly dogs (but also lasers).

 

We would like to thank our editors emeriti.

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Jonas Helsen (July 2016 – June 2019) – Hey! My name is Jonas and I am one of the theorists at QuTech. I only started my PhD a year ago so I still have lots to learn but I’m really excited about being here! I’m also passionate about teaching people about the magical world of quantum computing which is why I co-started Bits Of Quantum with my lovely co-editors! Happy reading!

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James Kroll (July 2016 – May 2019)- I am James, an experimental physicist hailing from Scotland. I work in the topological quantum computing roadmap of Leo Kouwenhoven, as it requires an exciting mix of condensed matter physics theory, experimental cryogenics, electrical engineering and computer programming – all things that I somehow enjoy. If I’m not in the lab, you will most likely find me cycling somewhere or reading. Or eating. That’s a pretty important part of my life.

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Suzanne van Dam (July 2016 – February 2019) – My name is Suzanne, and I am doing a PhD in the lab of Ronald Hanson, since two years now. One of my favourite things is to see the quantum world in the lab on a daily basis. My hope is that from this blog it will become clear why I am so excited about this!

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All correspondence can be sent to blog@qutech.nl.