Institutions

University Offices, Wellington Square
Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 2JD
United Kingdom

Summary: World-leading for experimental quantum sensing. The Clarendon Laboratory (Department of Physics) hosts groups in quantum optics, AMO physics, quantum sensing (NV centres, levitated optomechanics), condensed matter spin physics, superconducting quantum detectors, and astrophysical instrumentation. Oxford leads the AION-10 atom interferometer project (UK Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics), directly relevant to gravitational wave detection and dark matter sensing. The Beecroft Building cleanroom supports superconducting quantum device fabrication. Strong for both bio sensing (spin, ODMR) and astro sensing (AION, detector development).

Notes: Top-5 world-ranked R1 research university. The Department of Physics at the Clarendon Laboratory hosts leading groups in quantum optics, AMO physics, quantum sensing, condensed matter spin physics, superconducting quantum detectors, and astrophysical instrumentation. Oxford has a strong quantum technology ecosystem including the Oxford Quantum Institute and multiple UKRI Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics projects (AION-10). Has cleanroom facilities in the Beecroft Building used by the superconducting quantum devices/detectors groups.

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Department(s)/lab(s): Physics (Astrophysics) | Stars & Planets Group (Aigrain) @ Oxford
Summary:

Aigrain leads the Stars & Planets group, developing Bayesian data-analysis methods (including Gaussian-process regression) to disentangle stellar activity signals from exoplanet transit and radial-velocity data, with a leading role on the CoRoT, Kepler/K2, TESS, PLATO and Terra Hunting Experiment surveys.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics (Condensed Matter Physics Sub-department) | Quantum Spin Dynamics Group @ Oxford
Summary:

Ardavan leads the Quantum Spin Dynamics group, studying quantum coherent phenomena in condensed matter. Central to the lab's quantum sensing relevance: (1) molecular spin qubits — using pulsed EPR/DEER to characterise and control multi-spin registers ({Cr7Ni} molecular rings, nitroxide radical chains) assembled into qubit networks, measuring coherence times, inter-qubit couplings, and demonstrating spin-electric coupling in molecular magnets; (2) DNA-assembled molecular quantum devices — using DNA nanostructures to precisely position molecular spin qubits for multi-qubit sensing and quantum information applications; (3) surface atom spin resonance — STM-based coherent spin control of individual atoms on surfaces at nanosecond timescales. Uses X-band through W-band pulsed EPR at Centre for Advanced Electron Spin Resonance (CAESR), Oxford.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics (Clarendon Laboratory) | Ion Trap Quantum Computing Group @ Oxford
Summary:

Ballance develops techniques and technologies (including cryogenic ion traps and integrated photonic addressing chips) to control trapped atomic-ion qubits with high fidelity at scale, co-founding the spin-out company Oxford Ionics to commercialise the approach.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics (Biological Physics) | Nucleic Acid Nanotechnology Group @ Oxford
Summary:

Bath's group designs and assembles DNA- and RNA-based molecular machines and nanostructures (including DNA origami 'molecular signposts' for cryo-electron tomography), aiming to create probes of cellular structure and function and new disruptive technologies for molecular manufacturing.

Department(s)/lab(s): Chemistry (Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory) | Benesch Group @ Oxford
Summary:

Benesch combines native mass spectrometry with mass photometry (developed jointly with Philipp Kukura) and other biophysical methods to determine how proteins, including molecular chaperones, assemble, interact and evolve, integrating single-molecule bioanalytical technologies for proteomics.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics (Biological Physics) | Biophysics of Molecular Motors Group (Berry) @ Oxford
Summary:

Berry studies rotary molecular motors, especially the bacterial flagellar motor, using novel forms of light microscopy (laser dark-field microscopy, back-focal-plane laser interferometry, optical and magnetic tweezers) to track sub-micron handles with nanometre and sub-millisecond resolution, revealing how these nanoscale engines are built, controlled and generate torque.

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Department(s)/lab(s): Physics (Astrophysics) | Birkby Exoplanet Atmospheres Group @ Oxford
Summary:

Birkby uses the world's largest telescopes and highest-resolution spectrographs to determine the composition and dynamics of exoplanet atmospheres via high-resolution cross-correlation spectroscopy, as ERC Starting Grant PI of the 'exoZoo' project, with a longer-term goal of surveying nearby terrestrial exoplanets with future Extremely Large Telescopes.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics (Astrophysics) | Global Jet Watch @ Oxford
Summary:

Blundell studies the physics of relativistic jets, microquasars and active galaxies, running the Global Jet Watch: a network of five school-based telescopes spread in longitude around the globe that together deliver round-the-clock optical spectroscopy of Galactic black-hole binaries such as SS433.

Department(s)/lab(s): Engineering Science | Dynamic Optics and Photonics Group @ Oxford
Summary:

Booth's Dynamic Optics and Photonics Group develops adaptive-optics methods (deformable mirrors, spatial light modulators) for aberration correction in confocal, two-photon and super-resolution (STORM/STED/SIM) microscopy, enabling higher-fidelity deep-tissue biomedical imaging, alongside applications in ultrafast laser micro-fabrication of photonic devices.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics (Atomic and Laser Physics Sub-department) | Ultracold Quantum Matter Group / AION Oxford (Foot Group) @ Oxford
Summary:

Foot leads the Ultracold Quantum Matter group and is one of the two Oxford physics PIs co-leading the AION project at Oxford. His group develops laser-cooled strontium atom sources with the ultranarrow Sr-87 clock transition for large-scale single-photon atom interferometry. Near-term goals include the AION-10, a 10-m baseline vertical atom interferometer currently under construction in the Beecroft Building stairwell, targeting dark matter searches and mid-band gravitational wave detection. Foot's group also studies non-equilibrium 2D quantum gas physics (BKT transition, vortex dynamics) using matter-wave interferometry. AION is linked to MAGIS-100 at Fermilab.