|
|
Introduction
Physics is fascinating
because of the intellectual excitement it provides and because of the
applications it offers. In the Group
of Applied Physics (GAP) at Geneva
University we get our inspiration from both of these motivations.
Optics, in this respect, has a privileged place. Indeed, in modern optics,
experiments and theory progress hand-in-hand, and practical applications
are close behind. Consequently, we can work both on conceptual issues
and on applications. Moreover, it is a very good time for optics! The
fascinating new insight about quantum mechanics brought about by recent
quantum optics experiments on one side, and the tremendous development
of optical communications on the other, illustrates our privileged position!
The American Research
Council has recently declared optics as the technology of the 21st century.
In contrast, a famous physicist, Michael Berry, has declared that the
21st century will be shaped by quantum physics, in a way similar to
electrodynamics, which shaped the 20th century. Our position in GAP-Optique,
at the crossroads between optics and quantum physics, ensures our participation
to both challenges.
Prof. Nicolas Gisin
Group leader
|
 |
Quantum Physics vs Telecommunication revisited
November 2003
We missed this Nature News & Views back in 2003 but thought that it was worth a mention now that we found it again! Nicolas Brunner and co-workers show how standard processes in fibre-optic networks embody fundamental features of quantum logic and could provide telecommunication engineers with a simple quantum-based formalism for understanding what happens to their light signals.
|
 |
The first live QKD network demonstration
October 2008
The first live demonstration of a working quantum key distribution (QKD) network recently took place in Vienna. Eight QKD-links were combined in a novel quantum-back-bone network physically deployed within a typical metropolitan area network to connect different company sites from SIEMENS Austria. Nicolas Gisin's Group of Applied Physics developed the prototype system for the longest (82km) link in the network.
|
 |
ERC Advanced researcher grant at the GAP
August 2008
Nicolas Gisin has been awarded one of the prestigous European Research Council (ERC) grants for advanced researchers in the domain, Physical Sciences and Engineering.
These grants are aimed at supporting fundamental research. Out of 997 applications, 105 have been successful, Switzerland received 9 of them.
|
 |
"For their outstanding theoretical and experimental studies on quantum entanglement"
August 2008
The NUS team, together with Dr Alexander Ling and some co-workers from the University of Geneva, have produced a series of studies on one of the most counter-intuitive consequences of entanglement: the fact that a joint system may have sharply defined properties, while none of its components have. For their outstanding theoretical and experimental studies on quantum entanglement, Associate Professor Christian Kurtsiefer, Assistant Professor Antia Lamas-Linares and Associate Professor Valerio Scarani (formerly in the GAP) were awarded the 2008 National (singapore) Science Award.
More information can be found here.
|
 |
Testing the speed of 'spooky action at a distance'
August 2008
Physicists at the University of Geneva's Group of Applied Physics have shown that two photons can be connected in a way that seems to defy the very nature of space and time, yet still obey the laws of quantum physics. This was achieved by creating a pair of ‘entangled’ photons, separating
them, then sending them down a fibre optic cable to the Swiss villages of Satigny and Jussy, some 18 kilometres apart.
|
|
Quantum Cryptography Landmark
March 2008
The Group's 'Quantum key distribution over 67 km with a plug & play system' article in the New Journal of Physics
has been selected as one of the journal's 10th anniversary highlights.To accompany the shortlist they have put together an exclusive
collection of non-specialist summaries written
by the original authors themselves.
|
 |
Spontaneous Interference!
November 2007
We have recently performed an interference experiment using light
spontaneously emitted from atoms in two independent solid-state crystals. The
experiment shows in a clear and straightforward way that the spontaneous emission
of light can be highly coherent. This type of experiment is not only facscinating,
from a fundamental point of view, but also for applications such as quantum memories for photons that are
currently being developed in our group.
|
 |
Quantum Elections
October 2007
World premiere for Geneva. The canton employed quantum
cryptography to protect the dedicated line used for counting the ballots, for the swiss national
elections on October 21, 2007. This first real-world application of this technology is the initial
phase of a wide-ranging plan involving several partners from the Lake Geneva region, including
University of Geneva, start-up company id Quantique and the NCCR QP. Eventually, this operation will
lead to the creation of a pilot quantum communications network in Geneva similar to the nascent
Internet network in the United States back in the 1970s.
|
Copyright (c) 2005 - 2008 GAP-Optique, University
of Geneva
|
|