Laurat leads the Quantum Networks team at LKB, developing quantum memories and atom-photon interfaces for quantum network applications. Research directions: (1) High-efficiency cold-atom quantum memories — DLCZ-protocol and AFC memories for telecom photons; demonstrating >90% efficiency and multimode operation; quantum cryptography integrating optical quantum memory (arXiv Mar 2025); (2) Waveguide QED — cold atoms coupled to nanofibers and nanophotonic waveguides for super-radiance, photon-bound states, and atom-photon gates; (3) Quantum network protocols — entanglement distribution, quantum repeater segments; part of European Quantum Flagship 'Quantum Internet Alliance'; (4) Hybrid entanglement — continuous-variable and discrete-variable hybrid entanglement for CHSH Bell tests (PRA 2024). Senior IUF member.
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 — 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.
Mahmoodian is a quantum-optics theorist working on waveguide QED and photon-photon interactions: how strongly-coupled emitters in a one-dimensional photonic channel generate non-classical photon-number correlations, and how those correlated multi-photon states can be exploited. His most sensing-relevant result is the demonstration that photon-number-correlated states produced by a single emitter can be used for quantum-enhanced metrology and absorption spectroscopy, beating the shot-noise limit with a source that requires no squeezing. He also works on the fundamental limits of quantum-enhanced measurement. 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 — his work belongs to the 'fundamental light physics' arm of the search rather than the spin arm, and it addresses the question directly downstream of pT/sqrt(Hz) ensembles: given a shot-noise-limited readout, what does non-classical light buy you? Theory PI, but tightly coupled to photonics experiments.