Antoine Browaeys' group at LCF/IOGS is a world leader in neutral atom quantum simulation using optical tweezer arrays. Research: (1) Rydberg atom tweezer arrays for quantum simulation of strongly correlated many-body systems and quantum sensing; (2) dipole-dipole interactions in Rydberg ensembles; (3) co-founder and key researcher of Pasqal (neutral atom quantum computing company). The group works on scalable neutral atom platforms relevant to quantum sensors and quantum simulation. Open postdoc positions (2026).
Igor Ferrier-Barbut (CNRS DR, LCF/IOGS) works on dipolar and Rydberg quantum systems for quantum simulation. Research: (1) dipolar dysprosium (Dy) quantum gases — magnetic dipole-dipole interactions, supersolids, quantum droplets; (2) sub-wavelength structured atomic arrays as quantum simulation platforms; (3) collective light-matter interactions in dense cold-atom ensembles. Jacques Herbrand Grand Prize 2022. ERC Starting Grant (CORSAIR). Works in the Browaeys/Lahaye quantum optics group.
Philippe Grangier is a pioneer of quantum optics and quantum information at the Laboratoire Charles Fabry (IOGS/École Polytechnique). Research: (1) foundations of quantum mechanics: single photon experiments, Bell tests, quantum non-demolition measurement; (2) quantum optics and quantum information — continuous variables, entanglement generation, quantum cryptography; (3) Rydberg atom experiments (in collaboration with Browaeys). Coordinator of SIRTEQ network (700+ quantum researchers in Île-de-France). Closely connected to Pasqal spinoff. Key for quantum sensing foundations.
Thierry Lahaye (CNRS DR, LCF/IOGS) co-leads the quantum optics atoms group with Browaeys and Ferrier-Barbut. Research: (1) Rydberg atom tweezer arrays for quantum simulation of many-body spin Hamiltonians; (2) dipole-dipole interaction physics with Rydberg atoms; (3) cryogenic tweezer arrays (2000-site rearrangement at 4K, PRApplied 2024). Key architect of Pasqal's quantum computing platform.
Peter Smith (Professor, ORC Southampton) develops integrated photonic devices for quantum technologies and sensing. Research: (1) direct UV laser writing — waveguides and Bragg gratings in silica/glass for atom-trap integrated optics; (2) quantum photonic circuits — integrated waveguides for quantum computing and communication; (3) PPLN and nonlinear optics — electrical poling of LiNbO₃ for wavelength conversion (Covesion spinout); (4) integrated sensing — chemical/biological sensors and optofluidic microfluidic chips; (5) applications to cold atom systems — 'Integrated optical elements for miniaturised atom traps'. Spin-outs: Covesion, Stratophase.
Christoph Westbrook co-heads the Quantum Gases group at LCF/IOGS. Research: (1) metastable helium (He*) BEC and ultracold atomic gases — atom optics, Bose-Hubbard physics, Anderson localization; (2) correlated atom pair production via four-wave mixing for quantum atom optics sensing; (3) atom laser and matter-wave interferometry. The group pioneered the He* BEC and uses correlated atom pairs for quantum sensing analogous to two-photon quantum optics.