The Kovachy Group applies quantum wave properties of ultracold atoms to precision sensing. Primary focus: (1) Advanced large-momentum-transfer (LMT) atom interferometer pulse sequences using Bragg diffraction and Bloch oscillations to achieve record momentum splits of 100s of ℏk, enhancing sensitivity for fundamental physics tests; (2) MAGIS-100 collaboration — the 100 m-tall atom interferometer at Fermilab targeting gravitational waves in the mid-band complementary to LIGO/LISA, dark matter field searches, and tests of quantum mechanics at macroscopic scales; (3) Search for deviations from Newtonian gravity at micrometer range using atom-interferometric force sensing, and a new measurement of Newton's gravitational constant G; (4) Cryogenic optical cavity dark matter search (with Gabrielse and Geraci groups). David and Lucile Packard Fellow (2020), Paul Ehrenfest Best Paper Award 2020, NIST Precision Measurement Grant 2019. Member of CFP Northwestern and CIERA.

Kowalczyk develops and applies OPM-MEG at Birmingham's CHBH, including paediatric and naturalistic-paradigm neuroimaging. The work complements NV-center diamond ensemble quantum sensing (DEER, NMR, T1 relaxometry) at pT/sqrt(Hz) sensitivity by pursuing the same field-sensing goals in a different physical platform.

Prof. Kozorovitskiy (Neurobiology) studies neuromodulation and plasticity in the striatum and basal ganglia, with a distinctive emphasis on developing and applying advanced optical imaging methods. Imaging technique innovations: (1) Oblique plane illumination (OPI / scanned oblique plane illumination, SOPi) microscopy — a single-objective light-sheet technique achieving tilt-invariant volumetric imaging for rapid 3D capture of fluorescently labeled neural structures without mechanical tilting; (2) Two-photon fluorescence imaging and two-photon glutamate/neuromodulator photorelease for single-synapse resolution in live tissue; (3) Near-infrared genetically-encoded calcium indicators (with Verkhusha group) for in vivo multi-color neural recording with reduced photobleaching. The lab's technical contributions are centered on extending the spatial and volumetric resolution of live-tissue fluorescence imaging. Irving M. Klotz Research Professor of Neurobiology; Beckman Young Investigator 2015.

Kralj's group pioneered bacterial electrophysiology using genetically encoded voltage indicators, building high-throughput fluorescence-imaging platforms to map the proteins and dynamics governing membrane voltage in bacteria and to study bioelectric signaling and mechanosensation in cells. For context, this complements the established paradigm of NV-diamond ensemble magnetometry (Hahn-echo/DEER, nanoscale NMR, T1 relaxometry) operating near pT/√Hz sensitivity.

Designs programmable DNA nanodevices as quantitative fluorescent reporters to map second messengers in real time inside specific organelles of living cells. Research directions: (1) DNA origami ion-sensing nanodevices for pH, Cl-, Ca2+, HOCl, and membrane voltage with single-organelle addressability; (2) targeting nanodevices to endosomes, lysosomes, mitochondria, and ER to dissect organelle biology and disease mechanisms; (3) in vivo deployment in C. elegans and Drosophila. NIH Director's Pioneer Award 2022.

Krueger's chemistry group develops diamond and nanodiamond surface chemistry, functionalization and bioconjugation that make NV centres viable, shallow, coherent quantum sensors for chemical and biological targets - the materials-chemistry enabler for NV ensemble sensing. She co-leads Stuttgart's quantum-technologies profile. In the broader landscape of NV-centre ensemble quantum sensing (DEER, nano-NMR, T1 relaxometry) operating near pT/sqrt(Hz) sensitivity, this work is enabled at the surface-chemistry level by this work.

Kruger develops atom-chip and atomic-vapour quantum sensors, including cold-atom and hot-vapour magnetometry and matter-wave interferometry for precision field and inertial sensing. The work complements NV-center diamond ensemble quantum sensing (DEER, NMR, T1 relaxometry) at pT/sqrt(Hz) sensitivity by pursuing the same field-sensing goals in a different physical platform.

Kuhlmey works on structured electromagnetic materials across an unusually wide frequency range: microstructured optical fibres, metamaterials, non-reciprocal and time-varying media, and — the newest and most sensing-relevant thread — quantum terahertz photonics, in collaboration with ENS Paris and CSIRO. The THz programme is explicitly aimed at single-photon/single-electron coupling in the THz band, which if it works would allow quantum devices to operate at a few kelvin rather than millikelvin. The group runs a THz time-domain spectroscopy lab with cryogenic capability. Positioned against the established body of NV-ensemble quantum sensing work — DEER, nanoscale NMR and T1 relaxometry protocols operating at pT/sqrt(Hz) field sensitivity — the THz band is the one part of the spectrum where neither superconducting circuits nor NV ensembles currently offer quantum-limited detection, so this is a genuine gap-filling programme rather than a variation on existing pT/sqrt(Hz) approaches.

Kuhn leads the Atom-Photon Connection group, working at the single-atom, single-photon level. Key research thrusts: (1) deterministic generation of indistinguishable single photons from single atoms in high-finesse cavities, with cluster-state production for one-way quantum computing; (2) development of integrated fibre-tip microcavities with small radius-of-curvature for >50% photon capture efficiency and direct fibre coupling; (3) single-photon quantum memories using cavity-coupled atom systems; and (4) optical trapping of single atoms in the Lamb-Dicke regime for quantum simulation and networking. The group uses reinforcement learning for optimal quantum control of atom-cavity systems.

Kuimova pioneered the use of fluorescent 'molecular rotor' probes combined with fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) to quantitatively map intracellular microviscosity in live cells and tissue, with applications spanning photodynamic therapy, membrane biophysics and G-quadruplex DNA imaging.