Quantum Physics

Scientists at EPFL and IBM Research have developed a compact optical amplifier based on a photonic chip that vastly outperforms traditional optical amplifiers in both bandwidth and efficiency. This breakthrough could reshape data center interconnects, AI accelerators, and high-performance computing.

EPFL researchers have achieved a remarkable result: capturing and studying phase changes in quantum hardware, which hold promise for next-generation technologies like quantum computing and ultra-sensitive sensors.

Empa researchers from the nanotech@surfaces laboratory have experimentally recreated another fundamental theoretical model from quantum physics, which goes back to the Nobel Prize laureate Werner Heisenberg. The basis for the successful experiment was a kind of “quantum Lego” made of tiny carbon molecules known as nanographenes. This synthetic bottom-up approach enables versatile experimental research into quantum technologies, which could one day help drive breakthroughs in the field.

At the end of January, Empa opened a new laboratory that aims to harness quantum effects from carbon. This could pave the way for sustainable quantum technologies, including quantum computers. The project is supported by the Werner Siemens Foundation.

Scientists at EPFL have revealed how quantum interference and symmetry dictate molecular behavior in collisions with gold surfaces, offering new insights into molecular interactions. The findings can have important implications for chemistry and materials science.

Quantum computing could be one of the big technological revolutions of the coming decades. At EPFL, scientists are at the forefront of harnessing quantum technologies to address real-world issues, aligning their efforts with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.