Description: Off-resonant cascaded absorption or Autler-Townes splitting protocols in hot Rb/Cs vapour for telecom-compatible photon storage.
Alex Clark's group works at the interface of quantum science and technology, focusing on: (1) quantum imaging with undetected photons (mid-IR sensing at 3.28 Β΅m using CMOS cameras and entangled photons β QIUP technique); (2) single-molecule photon sources (molecules coupled to nanophotonic cavities); (3) quantum memory protocols (ORCA and ATS in atomic vapours for telecom-band photon storage); (4) integrated photonics for quantum sensing. Director of QET Labs; Work Package Leader in three UK Quantum Technology Hubs.
Julien Laurat's quantum networks group develops atomic interfaces for long-distance quantum communication and sensing. Research: (1) cold atom quantum memory using DLCZ-protocol and EIT β multi-mode storage, entanglement generation; (2) nanofibre-trapped atom light interface for quantum networks; (3) quantum memory for telecom-band photons using rare-earth crystals. CNRS Silver Medal 2026. ERC Consolidator grant. Highly relevant to quantum sensing via atomic sensors and quantum network nodes.
Patrick Ledingham's Hybrid Quantum Networks Lab develops light-matter interfaces for large-scale quantum photonic networks. Research: (1) warm and cold atomic ensemble quantum memories (ORCA protocol in warm Rb vapour) for telecom-wavelength photon storage; (2) atom-photon entanglement generation; (3) multiplexed quantum memories for repeater nodes. Key for quantum sensing via atom-photon entanglement and quantum repeater architectures.
Works in quantum optics and AMO physics: generation, characterization, and engineering of photonic quantum states, atomic and solid-state quantum memories, single-photon-level atomic/molecular spectroscopy, and optical magnetometry for quantum sensing; leads UIUC's public quantum network project.