Simon Groeblacher's lab probes quantum physics at meso- and macroscopic scales using mechanical motion, rare-earth ion emitters, and superconducting qubits. Key research directions: (1) quantum optomechanics with photonic crystal nano-beam resonators deep in the resolved-sideband regime; (2) silicon defect emitters (rare-earth doped silicon) for quantum network nodes; (3) quantum acoustics experiments coupling mechanical resonators to superconducting qubits. The lab fabricates all devices in-house at Kavli Nanolab and has received NWO Summit Grant for 'Quantum Limits' and QDNL/NWO grant for quantum network nodes.
Safavi-Naeini's group engineers nanoscale optomechanical and electromechanical devices -- phononic-crystal membranes and superconducting-circuit-coupled resonators -- for quantum-limited force and displacement sensing and for coherent microwave-to-optical quantum transduction linking superconducting qubits to photonic quantum networks.
Albert Schliesser's group engineers ultracoherent phononic crystal membrane resonators with dissipation-dilution Q>10^9 and uses them for quantum optomechanics: ground-state cooling, back-action-evading measurement, optical quantum memory for single photons, and microwave-optical quantum transduction. Recent work has demonstrated a soft-clamped topological phononic waveguide (Nature 2025) and scanning force microscopy below the standard quantum limit. The group bridges fundamental quantum physics with novel sensors for electromagnetic fields and forces, and mechanical interfaces for hybrid quantum networks.