quantum computing phd sweden

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Quantum Technology

Quantum Technology is an emerging field of science and technology where the unique properties of quantum systems enable novel applications. Quantum systems are designed for control by classical signals to create entanglement and arbitrary superpositions or initiate measurement (projection onto a basis) at will. Applications include highly parallel computation by processing quantum information, simulation of complex quantum problems, cryptography for secure communication and sensing at or below the 'standard quantum limit' of measurement noise. Quantum technology is rapidly developing into a new branch of engineering where electrical, mechanical, optical, microwave and hybrid systems are designed to control and exploit their quantum nature.

Quantum Technology at KTH

The Quantum Technology track seeks to facilitate theoretical and practical knowledge with a focus on understanding technological applications of quantum physics. You must choose a minimum of 40 ECTS credits from core knowledge courses within the track. Two mandatory courses cover the theoretical aspects ( Advanced quantum mechanics SI2380 ) and the experimental and technological aspects ( Quantum technology SK2903 ). From this basic knowledge of quantum physics, you continue to study specific branches of quantum technology in conditionally elective courses. You can elect to take an individual project course, often working in a research group developing quantum technology, such as superconducting quantum circuits, single-photon detectors and sources, quantum biophotonics, quantum materials and condensed matter theory. The master's degree project is either theoretical or practical, and many students fabricate and measure quantum devices in the Albanova Nanolab. 

Topics covered

Quantum mechanics, entanglement, superposition, decoherence in open quantum systems, quantum information, quantum limited sensing, quantum non-destructive measurements, quantum communication, macroscopic quantum systems, quantum optics, quantum microwaves, quantum materials.

After completing your master's degree on the Quantum Technology track, there are opportunities for a career in the rapidly growing sector of quantum technology start-up companies or in established high-technology industry. The track provides a solid foundation for further studies leading to a PhD degree. You can also complement your studies with training in entrepreneurship. Graduates from this track will participate in shaping an entirely new technology, which use we cannot completely foresee today.

Graduate interview

Daniele Lopriore (Quantum Technology track) Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics

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MSc Engineering Physics

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Research project Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology (WACQT)

WACQT is a national research programme, coordinated from Chalmers, that aims to take Swedish research and industry to the forefront of quantum technology.

The world is on the verge of a quantum technology revolution, with extremely powerful computers, intercept-proof communications and hyper-sensitive measuring instruments in sight. Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology is a 12 year SEK 1 billion research effort that aims to take Sweden to the forefront of this very rapidly expanding area of technology. Through an extensive research programme, we aim at developing and securing Swedish expertise within the main areas of quantum technology: quantum computing and simulation, quantum communications and quantum sensing. Our main project is to develop a quantum computer that can solve problems far beyond the reach of the best conventional supercomputers.

Project description

WACQT is directed and coordinated from Chalmers University of Technology, however several Swedish universities are involved: KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Lund University, Stockholm University, Linköping University, and University of Gothenburg. The research areas quantum sensing and quantum communication are coordinated from Lund University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and Stockholm University. WACQT also has several industrial partner companies.

Project members

Emil Johansson Bergholtz

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Putting Sweden at the forefront of quantum technology

Strategic initiatives.

• Chalmers University of Technology

Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology (WACQT) is a center responsible for research programs in four areas of quantum technology.

Chalmers University of Technology is responsible for quantum computing and quantum simulation. 

KTH (The Royal Institute of Technology) is responsible for quantum communication, and Lund University for development of quantum sensing.

The overall program is being coordinated by Chalmers.

Grant: 1.4 billion for 2018-2029.

Quantum physics has already had a huge impact, thanks to inventions such as the transistor and the laser, which in turn paved the way for modern-day information technology in the form of computers, the internet and advancing measuring methods.

We now possess knowledge enabling us to make further advances, usually referred to as the second quantum revolution. Among other things, scientists have aimed their sights at ultrafast quantum computers, surveillance-proof communication, hyper-sensitive measuring instruments and tailored drugs. Quantum computers are also expected to have a major impact on artificial intelligence and machine learning.

It is essential for Sweden to keep up with these developments, both as a base for research and as an industrial nation, an insight underlying Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation’s decision to allocate SEK 1 billion to the center.

A whole new computing dimension

But at present few people are really sure of the implications of using quantum computers, although there is no shortage of speculation. It is also difficult to predict when the first quantum computer that is more powerful than today’s computers will be built. What is certain is that many people are vying to be first, and that they are seeking solutions in different ways.

One person who is convinced of the enormous potential of quantum computing is Per Delsing, Professor of Quantum Device Physics, and Program Director of WACQT.

“It’s not going to be twice or three times as good – we’re talking about a whole new dimension. If we can build a 300-qubit quantum computer, it would theoretically be able to process more numbers than there are atoms in the universe.”

It is a mindboggling thought, but we are still some way away. In fact, the largest quantum computer built to date has a capacity of 20 qubits. WACQT’s aim is to build a 100-qubit quantum computer within ten years. But 50–60 qubits would suffice to exceed the computing power of present-day supercomputers.

The center opened in early 2018. The research program, coordinated by Chalmers University of Technology, also involves KTH (The Royal Institute of Technology) and Lund University.

“The center spans all four pillars of quantum technology: Chalmers is responsible for quantum computing and quantum simulation, and it is here that the quantum computer will be built. KTH is responsible for quantum communication, and Lund University for quantum sensing,” Delsing explains.

Researchers from other universities are also taking part in the program.

Manufacturing their own quantum bits

Absolutely essential to the project is the 1,000-square-meter clean room at Chalmers, described by a number of researchers as one of the best in the world. Here, the team are making their own quantum bits. They are using a machine that works as an evaporator, in which quantum bits with nanoscale features are made. They consist of a layer of aluminum oxide sandwiched between two layers of aluminum. Quantum bits and microwave circuits are patterned on a silicon chip using electron beam lithography. The microwaves are what spur the qubits into action.

“One might say that this is where the very heart of the superconducting quantum computer is created,” says Andreas Bengtsson.

Quantum bits are neither easy to make nor to store, and have an astonishingly short lifespan.

“They’re like potatoes – they have to be kept cool and in the dark,” Delsing says, with a chuckle.

The difference is that quantum bits have to be kept as close to absolute zero as possible. They are placed in a cryostat maintaining a temperature of minus 273.14 degrees Celsius.

Delsing and his colleagues have ample experience of building quantum bits.

In 2003 they created their first superconducting quantum bit, and were among the first in the world to do so. The qubits produced by their team are also among those with the longest lifespan. So far, the longest lifespan for a qubit is very short indeed – 100 microseconds, although 1,000 to 10,000 operations can be performed in that short time.

To ensure that the quantum bit lives as long as possible, it must be isolated, but a channel must also be opened so it can be controlled and regulated. Notwithstanding these two conflicting tasks, the greatest challenge is in fact to interconnect multiple qubits on a chip, and get them to communicate with each other.

“It’s really hard to control the energy and frequency of the qubits. We’re solving the problems step by step – we’re starting with two or three bits, before trying seven, and so on,” Delsing explains.

The fact is that no one yet knows when it will be possible to connect up 100 qubits.

Quantum sensing and communication

Initially, the most important task was to recruit a qualified research team possessing expertise in all the necessary fields. The program consists of a theoretical and an experimental part.

Work at KTH is focusing on quantum communication and quantum cryptography.

“We are attempting to make quantum communication secret. Physical quantum systems can neither be monitored nor copied without it being detected. If someone tries to gain access to the information, it is changed. Quantum encryption will be exclusive and costly to start with, and will mainly be used by sectors such as banking and finance, health care, insurance and defense,” says Gunnar Björk, Professor of Photonics, and project coordinator at KTH.

At Lund University the quantum sensing part of the project is being coordinated by Stefan Kröll, Professor of Atomic Physics. Quantum sensing enables scientists to take measurements with higher sensitivity and greater precision.

“One result will be more powerful measuring instruments – everything from instruments measuring local variations in gravity to locate mineral deposits or to give advance warning of earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, to better magnetometers used to study brain activity.”

Just over six months after WACQT was founded, the EU launched a flagship initiative with a budget of one billion euros. One of the sub-projects is called OpenSuperQ. It involves ten European partners from the academic world and industry working together to build a 100-qubit quantum computer in just three years, ultimately making it available in the cloud. Several WACQT researchers are also taking part in OpenSuperQ; the Swedish involvement is headed by Associate Professor Jonas Bylander at Chalmers University of Technology.

Text: Carina Dahlberg Translation: Maxwell Arding Photo: Magnus Bergström

Published: 2019

More about WACQT

WACQT aims to establish and stimulate an interactive and open research environment. To this end, there are four interactive initiatives:

• A graduate school, where all PhD students and industry-sponsored doctoral students are offered joint courses and other activities. WACQT is expected to employ 60 PhD students over a ten-year period.
• A post-doc program offering a total of 40 post-doctoral positions over ten years.
• A guest researcher program.
• An industrial collaboration program.

Applications

Logistics is another major application for quantum computing. For instance, the number of combinations for 100 destinations with 100 aircraft and 100 crews is 1 followed by 316 zeros, whereas, by way of comparison, the number of particles in the universe is no more than 1 followed by 90 zeros.

More presentations

Microtechnology and Nanoscience

Quantum technology laboratory.

The Quantum Technology Laboratory (QTL) encompasses in general research within the field of quantum technology, focusing on quantum computing, quantum sensing, quantum transduction, quantum thermodynamics and quantum foundations.

The research spans amongst others quantum-processor design and technology, quantum computer software infrastructure, the physics of qubits and superconducting chips, the physics of nanomechanical resonators, exploration of the limits of quantum mechanics, thermodynamical concepts in the quantum regime and microwave-to-optics transduction on the quantum level.

QTL is largely guided by the efforts within the Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology (WACQT). A prominent goal of WACQT is to provide a functioning quantum computer with at least a hundred qubits. Such a computer has a far greater computing power than the best supercomputers of today and can be used, for example, to solve optimisation problems or heavy calculations of the properties of molecules. QTL develops such a quantum computer utilizing the experimental platform of superconducting quantum circuits.

QTL comprises five research groups, which are led by Jonas Bylander, Per Delsing, Simone Gasparinetti, Raphaël van Laer, and Witlef Wieczorek.

News from Quantum Technology

Towards interconnecting quantum computers using light and sound on a chip

Interconnecting remote quantum computers may accelerate the development of quantum technologies. But the road there is paved with several challenges. Now a research team at Chalmers University of Technology has made progress towards solving a central problem in the area - and thus taken a step closer to the possibility of interconnecting quantum computers using light.

One step closer to a European quantum computing community

At the end of June, nine European parties, including Chalmers, signed a hosting agreement for the acquisition and operation of a EuroHPC quantum computer within the framework of the LUMI-Q consortium. The collaboration is expected to link WACQT and other Nordic ecosystems for quantum computing users to a broad EU community and accelerate research and development in quantum technology in the coming years.

Great interest in Chalmers’ quantum computer

In step with the progress of quantum technology, the outside world’s interest in Chalmers' quantum computer is boosting – as is the number of study visits at WACQT. This spring the center has welcomed a number of curious students, companies and decision-makers from Sweden and abroad - all of whom want to know more about Chalmers’ quantum computer.

"Significant ramp-up phase but now we’re in a steady state"

Why do we need a Swedish quantum agenda? How do you best deal with the current quantum hype? And how is the construction of the quantum computer at WACQT coming along? These were a few of the topics that were up for discussion as the PhD students, researchers, partners, advisors, and board members of WACQT met up to review the center's activities during their annual May meeting.

Head of laboratory

• Head of Division , Quantum Technology, Microtechnology and Nanoscience

Senior researchers

• Professor , Quantum Technology, Microtechnology and Nanoscience

• Full Professor , Quantum Technology, Microtechnology and Nanoscience

• Assistant Professor , Quantum Technology, Microtechnology and Nanoscience

• Associate Professor , Quantum Technology, Microtechnology and Nanoscience

• Senior Researcher , Quantum Technology, Microtechnology and Nanoscience

Publications in Chalmers Research

We continually document our research in various types of publications, which are registered in Chalmers Research. Follow this link to see recent publication lists

The world is on the verge of a quantum technology revolution, with extremely powerful computers, intercept-proof communications and hyper-sensitive measuring instruments in sight. Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology is a 12 year SEK 1 billion research effort that aims to take Sweden to the forefront of this very rapidly expanding area of technology. Through an extensive research programme, we aim at developing and securing Swedish expertise within the main areas of quantum technology: quantum computing and simulation, quantum communications and quantum sensing. Our main project is to develop a quantum computer that can solve problems far beyond the reach of the best conventional supercomputers.

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Quantum Computing and Quantum Machine Learning

Short description.

The group’s main focus is on applications of machine learning (ML) to quantum physics. Topics that are addressed are related to quantum computing including quantum error correction using topological codes and variational quantum algorithms, as well as studying topological states of matter in condensed matter systems. Of particular interest is to utilize and adapt state-of-the-art deep learning algorithms to these types of problems. The work on quantum computing is done as part of the Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology (WACQT). As part of WACQT, we are also working on projects more closely related to the development of the actual quantum hardware with the aim of implementing near term error correction using small stabilizer codes.

Yale Quantum Institute

30 positions in quantum technology - wacqt, sweden.

The Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology recently announced a large number of positions in Quantum Technology; PhD-positions, Post-doc positions and some permanent researcher positions.

The positions are all connected to our new Quantum center: WACQT.se . About half of the positions are here at Chalmers but there are also quite a few positions at other Swedish universities.

The positions are announced here.  Deadline for most positions is March 18.

8 quantum-computing PhD positions in Sweden

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