Quantum Technology

James K. Thompson describes how photons repeatedly reflected inside an optical cavity can couple laser-cooled atoms. These collective interactions provide tools for both simulating many-body systems and improving precision measurements. The seminar examines ways to shape the coupling, including exchange and XYZ interactions, interactions involving three or four particles, dissipative processes and protection of coherence through a many-body energy gap. Applications include studying time-dependent phases of superconductors, increasing the sensitivity of matter-wave interferometers and advancing optical clocks. The organizer provides both an Ann Arbor venue and an online attendance option.

Lawrence Cheuk presents experiments using laser-cooled polar molecules held in optical-tweezer arrays. Molecular internal states and electric-dipole interactions provide resources for quantum computation, simulation and precision measurement. The talk covers preparation, control and detection of individual molecules; two-qubit operations and deterministic molecular entanglement; and one-dimensional spin simulations. Those experiments examine how spin excitations move, form bound pairs and undergo coherent pair creation and removal. A second set of experiments generates molecular spin-squeezed states and uses spatially resolved measurements to investigate reduced measurement noise, bipartite entanglement and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering. Preliminary progress toward larger arrays may also be discussed. The Donald R. Hamilton Colloquium takes place in Jadwin Hall A-10 at Princeton University.

Sisi Zhou discusses how quantum error correction and quantum-learning methods can improve physical sensing. The colloquium moves from qubit examples to distributed and many-body sensing, then considers measurement strategies for estimating several parameters. It takes place in Perimeter Institute's Time Room on 30 September 2026, from 11:00 to 12:30 Toronto time.

Sahand Tabatabaei presents SQUINT, a sensing platform that combines molecular electron spins, sensitive mechanical detection and control of spin interactions. Molecular sensors can be chemically adjusted and positioned near targets, offering flexibility that defects fixed inside a solid host cannot provide. The work uses a modified XYXY decoupling sequence to reduce dipolar interactions despite uneven control fields. In a sample containing roughly 100 trityl radicals, the reported coherence time reaches about 400 microseconds. These longer-lived spins enable frequency-selective measurements of weak alternating magnetic fields and spectroscopy of nearby nuclear-spin ensembles. The seminar explores how molecular control and mechanical readout can bring quantum sensing closer to complex chemical targets.

Funding for collaborative projects that integrate quantum computing into workflows using high-performance computing and artificial intelligence. Projects should address practical bottlenecks and demonstrate benefits of quantum-classical approaches. Projects can last three years from a fixed start of 1 June 2027. The maximum project full economic cost is £3.75 million, with EPSRC funding 80%. Applications close at 16:00 UK time on 3 November 2026.

Investigate quantum materials for sensing, including nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond, with the NIMS Semiconductor Defect Design Group. Work includes electron-spin-resonance characterization of color centers, crystal processing to control their structures, and analysis of defects and impurities. One position with a negotiable start in January 2027 or later. The initial appointment is for one year, renewable after annual review up to five years; published monthly salary JPY 345,425. Applications are accepted until the position is filled. Upload a ZIP through the official role page’s Box link containing the NIMS-format CV with photograph, a one-to-two-page research summary, publications and invited talks, details of two referees and three main papers. Follow the upload form’s subsequent notification instructions.

Susanne Yelin explains how modest control of analog quantum platforms can reveal observables and dynamics of strongly correlated fermions, including pairing, long-range interactions and cooling. The seminar then examines universal quantum computation under global control, optimal-control methods for engineering effective interactions and topological dynamics, and approximate error correction designed for analog systems. Together, these approaches treat large quantum devices as adaptable computational resources whose capabilities extend beyond simulating a single model. Hybrid attendance: free in-person participation at Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project, Room 2000, 2301 Bonisteel Boulevard, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA, or join remotely through the Zoom link in the organizer page’s main event description. Thursday 8 October, 11:00–12:00 EDT (America/Detroit).

James K. Thompson describes how photons repeatedly reflected inside an optical cavity can couple laser-cooled atoms. These collective interactions provide tools for both simulating many-body systems and improving precision measurements. The seminar examines ways to shape the coupling, including exchange and XYZ interactions, interactions involving three or four particles, dissipative processes and protection of coherence through a many-body energy gap. Applications include studying time-dependent phases of superconductors, increasing the sensitivity of matter-wave interferometers and advancing optical clocks. The organizer provides both an Ann Arbor venue and an online attendance option.

Sahand Tabatabaei presents SQUINT, a sensing platform that combines molecular electron spins, sensitive mechanical detection and control of spin interactions. Molecular sensors can be chemically adjusted and positioned near targets, offering flexibility that defects fixed inside a solid host cannot provide. The work uses a modified XYXY decoupling sequence to reduce dipolar interactions despite uneven control fields. In a sample containing roughly 100 trityl radicals, the reported coherence time reaches about 400 microseconds. These longer-lived spins enable frequency-selective measurements of weak alternating magnetic fields and spectroscopy of nearby nuclear-spin ensembles. The seminar explores how molecular control and mechanical readout can bring quantum sensing closer to complex chemical targets.