Simone De Liberato's Quantum Theory and Technology group explores quantum electrodynamics in semiconductor systems. Research: (1) ultrastrong and deep-strong light-matter coupling in polariton and circuit QED systems; (2) mid-infrared polariton physics with potential sensing applications; (3) virtual photon condensation and vacuum fluctuations in quantum materials; (4) positronium density measurements using polaritonic effects. Relevant to quantum sensing via strong coupling platforms.
Degen leads the Spin Physics and Imaging group, one of the world's leading NV-center magnetometry labs. Research directions (as of 2025): (1) Scanning NV magnetometry of quantum materials — NV-tipped cantilevers image current flow (≲50 nm resolution) in graphene heterostructures and resolve domain walls in antiferromagnets/ferroelectrics; cryogenic scanning down to 350 mK in dilution refrigerator (published Appl. Phys. Lett. 2022). (2) Single-molecule NMR — shallow NV centers detect nuclear spins from surface-adsorbed molecules with sub-nanometer 3D resolution; 2022 Nano Lett. on amine-functionalized diamond surfaces; exploring chirality-induced spin selectivity at few-molecule level. (3) NV magnetometry protocols — reconstruction-free waveform sensing (1.1 ns time resolution, Nature 2025), gradiometric detection, spectrum demodulation for rapid scanning, multi-NV addressing. (4) Diamond nanoengineering — multicone pillar waveguides, surface engineering, scanning probe fabrication. ERC Proof-of-Concept 2025 for photonic IC single-photon NV excitation/detection for commercial quantum sensing.
Cees Dekker (Distinguished University Professor, BioNanoscience/Kavli) pioneered solid-state nanopores and single-molecule biophysics. Research: (1) solid-state nanopores for protein sensing and sequencing — detecting individual protein molecules by current blockade; (2) DNA loop extrusion by condensin and cohesin at the single-molecule level; (3) chromatin structure and chromosome organisation with bacteria-on-chip; (4) synthetic cell construction from the bottom up; (5) diagnostic nanopores for neglected diseases. NanoFront 51M€ NWO program leader; 2019 Nature paper on real-time DNA loop extrusion imaging.
PREFERRED. Englund's Quantum Photonics Laboratory builds solid-state quantum technologies spanning diamond NV-center ensembles, integrated photonic circuits, and single-photon detectors, including a CMOS-integrated NV-ensemble quantum sensor for vector magnetometry and 4-pi steradian field sensing, and cavity-QED schemes for nuclear-spin readout aimed at nanoscale/inertial sensing. This continues the trajectory of NV ensemble quantum sensing (DEER, chip-scale NMR, T1 relaxometry) toward pT/sqrt(Hz)-class, chip-integrated magnetometers, alongside quantum networking and photonic quantum computing work.
Feldman's group uses scanning NV-diamond magnetometry -- imaging local magnetic fields with a single spin at the tip of a scanning probe -- to visualize currents, magnetism, and correlated-electron order in moire and other quantum materials at the nanoscale, extending the sensitivity/resolution tradeoff of ensemble NV-diamond sensing (DEER/T1 protocols at pT/√Hz) down to single-spin, single-defect imaging.
Galland leads LQNO at EPFL investigating light-matter interactions in nano-structures and the quantum regime. Research directions: (1) NV centers in diamond for quantum sensing — spectroscopy of NV spin states in ultra-thin diamond membranes, development of diamond nanophotonic platforms for enhanced sensing sensitivity; collaboration on quantum sensing with color centers; (2) Plasmonic nanocavities — few-nm gap junctions enhance Raman scattering by ×10^9, enabling single-molecule vibrational spectroscopy and coherent control; ultrafast and single-photon detection of coherent phonon dynamics; (3) 2D heterostructure photonics — entangled photon pair generation enhanced by TMD heterostructures; valley-polarized exciton sources; (4) Optical frequency conversion for quantum applications. SNSF-funded professor, internationally recognized for molecular optomechanics and carbon nanotube quantum optics.
Gambardella leads the Magnetism and Interface Physics group at ETH D-MATL. Research directions: (1) Scanning probe magnetometry — using NV-center cantilevers (collaboration with Degen) and magneto-optical Kerr microscopy to image spin textures (skyrmions, domain walls) in thin-film heterostructures with sub-100 nm resolution; (2) Spin-orbit torques — current-induced magnetization switching via interfacial spin-orbit coupling; spin Hall and Rashba effects for spintronic devices; (3) Single-atom magnetism — STM and X-ray absorption for element-specific orbital and spin moments of individual atoms on surfaces; (4) XMCD at synchrotron — quantitative element-specific magnetic spectroscopy. Quantum sensing angle: spin-orbit driven phenomena, high-resolution magnetic imaging.
Ghiasi's Quantum Spintronics (QuSpin) Lab studies spin transport and magnetism in 2D and van der Waals materials, and — in close collaboration with the van der Sar group — pioneered a diamond-membrane dry-transfer technique that brings NV-ensemble ensembles into direct nanoscale contact with 2D antiferromagnets (e.g., CrSBr) to quantitatively image monolayer-thickness-dependent magnetic stray fields. This complements the well-established line of NV-ensemble quantum sensing experiments (DEER, NMR, T1-relaxometry) that reach pT/sqrt(Hz)-class sensitivities, extending the toolbox toward mechanical and single-atom/single-spin readout.
Ham's group builds CMOS integrated-circuit platforms spanning scalable, chip-based NMR spectrometers (including impedance-tuned microwave loops for controlling dense NV-diamond spin ensembles, developed with Ronald Walsworth) and CMOS intracellular microelectrode arrays that record from thousands of neurons in parallel — a dual quantum-sensing/bioelectronic-sensing program built around scaling sensitive spin- and electrode-based sensors onto integrated circuits.
Studies surface and interface chemistry of diamond and other materials, including the chemical functionalization and stabilization of near-surface NV and silicon-vacancy color centers used in diamond-based quantum sensors, in collaboration with the Choy group.