Experimental Quantum Optics
and Photonics Group


Welcome to the University of Strathclyde’s Experimental Quantum Optics and Photonics Group. We are part of the Optics Division in the Department of Physics. Please contact us if you are interested in working in our research areas. See also the International Graduate School for Quantum Technologies, and available PhD opportunities.

Latest News

Graph Colouring via Quantum Optimization on a Rydberg-Qudit Atom Array
We propose a new approach to natively embedding graph colouring problems onto neutral atom arrays using multiple Rydberg states each representing a unique colour. Graph colouring arises in a wide range of industrially relevant optimisation problems from sharing data across a wifi network to scheduling tasks and planning workloads. Using multiple Rydberg states enables efficient encoding of this problem onto quantum hardware and provides a new direction for near-term applications of neutral atom quantum computing. For more details see arXiv.2504.08598.
CDT Recruitment Event – January 10th 2025
Our Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Applied Quantum Technologies will host a recruitment event on January 10th 2025. This event is an excellent opportunity for prospective applicants to learn more about our cutting-edge programme, meet key members of the team, and gain valuable insights into the unique academic and research opportunities we offer.
Demonstration of weighted graph optimization on a Rydberg atom array using local light-shifts
We present a scheme for speeding up quantum measurement. The scheme builds on previous protocols that entangle the system to be measured with ancillary systems. In the idealised situation of perfect entangling operations and no decoherence, it gives an exact space-time trade-off meaning the readout speed increases linearly with the number of ancilla. We verify this scheme is robust against experimental imperfections through numerical modelling of gate noise and readout errors, and under certain circumstances our scheme can even lead to better than linear improvement in the speed of measurement with the number of systems measured. This hardware-agnostic approach is broadly applicable to a range of quantum technology platforms and offers a route to accelerate midcircuit measurement as required for effective quantum error correction. For more details see Phys. Rev. Lett. 134, 080801 or arXiv:2407.17342.
Phonon excitations of Floquet-driven superfluids in a tilted optical lattice
Interactions in Floquet-driven quantum gases cause unwanted heating and excitation modes. We found a general set of resonance conditions that explain this ‘‘Floquet heating’’ for superfluids in optical lattices. Phys. Rev. Research 6, 023323 (2024).

Recent publications

Entangled states from sparsely coupled spins for metrology with neutral atoms
Physical Review Letters (2025)
Quantum states featuring extensive multipartite entanglement are a resource for quantumenhanced metrology, with sensitivity up to the …
Optical pattern formation in self-focusing and self-defocusing diffractively thick media
Physical Review A 111, (2025)
Cold atomic clouds constitute highly resonant nonlinear optical media, whose refractive index can easily be tuned via the light …
Below-threshold polarization behaviors of a VCSEL under external optical feedback
Journal of Optics (2025)
In this paper, the behavior of the lasing and non-lasing polarization modes in a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) with …
Optimizing spin polarization in quantum dot vertical-gain structures through pump wavelength selection
Applied Physics Letters 126, (2025)
Spintronic applications require an efficient injection of spin-polarized carriers. We study the maximally achievable spin polarization …