Collaborations
If you are interested in collaborating or other engagement with us, we would be happy to hear from you. Below are some of our recent and ongoing collaborations.
Programme grant and Innovate UK projects
EPSRC Programme Grant - Quantum and Many Body Physics Enabled by Advanced Semiconductor Nanotechnology - EP/V026496/1
Our overall aim is to explore the behaviour of nano-devices operating in regimes where fundamentally new types of quantum-photonic phenomena occur, with potential to underpin the next generation of quantum technologies. We focus on two complementary systems: III-V semiconductors with their highly perfect crystal lattices, proven ability to emit photons one by one and long coherence quantum states, and atomically-thin graphene-like two dimensional (2D) semiconductors enabling new band structures, stable electron-hole bound states (excitons) and easy integration with patterned structures. The combination of the two material systems is powerful enabling phenomena ranging from the single photon level up to dense many-particle states where interactions dominate. A significant part of our programme focusses on on-chip geometries, enabling scale-up as likely required for applications.
The grant is a collaboration between the University of Sheffield, the University of Manchester (R Gorbachev) and UCL (M H Szymanska) , capitalising on the advanced, complementary expertise in each institution.
The project lead is Dmitry Krizhanovskii.
Regarding Innovate UK projects, contact Jon Heffernan.
National Epitaxy Facility
The Facility is a collaboration between the University of Sheffield, Cambridge University and University College London and is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) as part of a network of National Research Centres.
Our mission is to provide a semiconductor epitaxy service to UK academics and industrial customers. The Facility provides a range of bespoke epitaxial wafers and devices that underpin world-class semiconductor research in the UK. Furthermore, it helps to support the impact of this research in the scientific and industrial strategy of the nation. The University of Sheffield has been providing such a service to the semiconductor research community since 1979.
We provide a full range of group III-V semiconductors and Si/Ge-based group IV materials by both the MBE and MOVPE techniques. Based on these materials, and working with our extensive network of users, we also produce a broad range of novel devices including LEDs, lasers, quantum circuits, transistors, advanced detectors and solar cells.
The director of the National Epitaxy Facility is Jon Heffernan.
UK national quantum tech partner
As part of the UK’s national quantum technology programme, the University of Sheffield is one of the consortia members of the Quantum Communication Hub and the Quantum Computation and Simulation Hub.
Quantum Communication Hub
This hub is led by the University of York and other University partners include: Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot Watt, Leeds, Strathclyde and York. Other partners include: Airbus, BT, Toshiba and the UK space agency.
Single-photon emitters at infrared frequencies would be an essential component of any quantum communication technology that uses low-attenuation optical fibres. At the University of Sheffield, we are developing such emitters using quantum dots. This effort is led by Maurice Skolnick.
Efficient protocols for entanglement and key distribution are pivotal to high-rate quantum communication systems. At the University of Sheffield, this effort is led by Pieter Kok.
Quantum Communication Hub website
Quantum Computation and Simulation Hub
This hub is led by the University of Oxford and other University partners include: Bath, Cambridge, University College London, Bristol, Durham, Southampton and Sussex. Other partners include Google, IBM, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Toshiba.
The University of Sheffield will develop software that improves the compilation of quantum algorithms and classical simulation of small quantum computers. One of our recent hub projects was a collaboration with IBM that developed simulation software that is now part of their QISkit platform. This effort is led by Earl Campbell.
QCDA: European consortia on quantum error correction
QCDA stands for Quantum Code Design and Architecture. QCDA goal is to develop new, more efficient techniques of quantum error correction.
We explore the capabilities of qubit codes in exotic topologies and algebraic ways of constructing quantum low-density parity check codes. We are also investigating continuous variable quantum error correction where the elementary building blocks are oscillators (eg photons) rather than qubits.
It is a European consortium led by the University of Sheffield and includes: University College London (D Browne), INRIA Paris (A Leverrier), QuTech Delft (B Terhal) and Munich (R Koenig). The University of Sheffield lead is Earl Campbell.
QuantERA Interpol
This grant aims to implement polariton lattices in semiconductor microcavities as a photonic-based solid-state platform for quantum simulations. It involves an international collaboration between
University College London (UK)
The University of Oxford (UK)
the University of Sheffield (UK)
the Paul-Drude-Institut (Germany)
Le Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies (France)
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Israel) and
the Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland)
The University of Sheffield contribution is led by Dmitry Krizhanovskii.