Solid-state quantum technology

Research in solid-state quantum technology focuses on the fabrication, investigation, and implementation of novel nanodevices both for fundamental science and for new applications. Joint experimental and theoretical activity is devoted to the study of quantum systems and phenomena, and aims at developing novel concepts and ideas, with potential impact on future applications. Advanced fabrication techniques and low-temperature magneto-transport measurements are developed along four main research lines, as described below.

 

Topologically protected quantum technology: The study of topological states of matter, systems that are intrinsically robust to external perturbations, is of great interest for new quantum computing architectures. Hybrid superconductor/semiconductor devices with strong-spin-orbit coupling represent an ideal platform to inspect this new physics. Systems based on Josephson junctions, quantum Hall setups, topological insulators, InAs nanowires,  and investigated by means of low-temperature investigated by means of low-temperature quantum transport experiments.

 

Charge and thermal transport at the nanoscale: Precise control of charge and heat transport at the nanoscale is at the heart of new technological advances. High-quality semiconducting nanowires and quantum dots are currently investigated, showing outstanding thermoelectric performance with high figure of merit. Tailoring of energy flow and heat flux is also achieved in hybrid systems with superconducting elements, with possible applications as thermal routers, heat converters, and nanorefrigerators. Unexpected gating effects have been recently reported on fully metallic superconducting systems, rising several open issues both from a fundamental point of view and for potential applications in superconducting qubits manipulation.

 

Superconducting spintronics: One of the promising perspectives of spintronics is the possibility to control spin and charge at the nanometer scale, both at classical and quantum (qubit) level. Recent advances allowed combining ferromagnetic insulators with superconductors, enabling control of spin polarization with high precision and possible applications in quantum sensing, like magnetometers and spin valves. Moreover, molecular spin systems can be engineered and coherently manipulated with unprecedented precision in combination with microwave planar resonators made of high-temperature superconductors.

 

Quantum metrology and simulation: Quantum features of nanosystems are exploited to achieve high-precision measurements and to set new metrological standards. Present work focuses on the development of novel quantum Hall resistance standards. Other activities concern quantum magnetometry based on the use of thermal states of single and collective spins. Precise manipulation of electrons in nanostructured environment and their interactions with optical beams offers innovative perspectives to simulate complex systems in a controlled fashion.

See also: Quantum@Nano.

 

Contacts

To learn more on specific topics of Solid-state quantum technology at Cnr Nano, please contact the Principal Investigators listed below. For general info, please contact Fabio Taddei, fabio.taddei@nano.cnr.it.

Running Projects

National Project​
International Project
Industrial Project
Others
Centre
Agency
TITLE
Dates
CNR Researcher
Pisa
Next Generation EU PNRR

PE4 NQSTI - National Quantum Science and Technology Institute - SPOKE 5 "Electron-based platform for quantum technologies" - PE0000023

2022-2025
Modena
Next Generation EU PNRR

PE4 NQSTI - National Quantum Science and Technology Institute - SPOKE 2 "Simulation, sensing and metrology" - PE0000023

2022-2025
Pisa
EUROPEAN RESEARCH EXECUTIVE AGENCY (REA)

QC4QT - Advancing Quantum Computers for (and with) Quantum Thermodynamics (GA 101063316)

2022-2024
Pisa
EU HORIZON-EIC-2021-TRANSITIONOPEN-01

SPECTRUM - SuPErConducTing Radio-frequency switch for qUantuM technologies (GA 101057977)

2022-2025
Modena
EU H2020 2018-2020 FET OPEN

SUPERGALAX - Highly sensitive detection of single microwave photons with coherent qunatum network of superconducting qubits for searching galactic axions (GA 863313)

2020-2023
Pisa
UE ERC-2019-PoC

TERASEC - THz imaging technology for public security (GA 899315)

2020-2022
Pisa
UE H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2020

SUPERGATE - Gate Tunable Superconducting Quantum Electronics (GA 964398)

2021-2024
Pisa
UNIVERSITY OF BASEL
Growth of nanowire based heterostructures
2021-2022
Pisa
UE H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2019-2020-4

GENESIS - GatE-coNtrollEd Superconducting TransIStors (GA 101034849)

2021-2022
Pisa
EU H2020-MSCA-IF-2020

SuperCONtacts - Solid state diffusion for atomically sharp interfaces in semiconductor-superconductor hybrid structures (GA 101022473)

2021-2023
Pisa
EU H2020-MSCA-IF-2018

Topocircus - Simulations of Topological Phases in Superconducting Circuits (GA 841894)

2019-2022
Modena
UE H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2020

IQubits -  Integrated Qubits Towards Future High-Temperature Silicon Quantum Computing Hardware Technologies (GA 829005)

2019-2024
Pisa
UE H2020-FETOPEN-2016-2017

SUPERTED - Thermoelectric detector based on superconductor-ferromagnet heterostructures (GA 800923)

2018-2023

Principal investigators