Bartholomew trained with Sellars (ANU) and Faraon (Caltech) and runs the Quantum Integration Laboratory, which works on rare-earth ions (erbium, europium, ytterbium) in crystals and in nanophotonic devices. Rare-earth ions have the longest optical and spin coherence times of any solid-state emitter, which makes them simultaneously the best optical quantum memories and, less obviously, extremely good sensors: the group works on rare-earth-based microwave and RF quantum sensing, on-chip integration of ions with photonic and superconducting circuits, and telecom-band spin-photon interfaces. 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 — rare-earth ensembles are the closest solid-state analogue to NV ensembles, with narrower optical lines and longer coherence but cryogenic operation; protocols like DEER and dynamical-decoupling-enhanced sensing at pT/sqrt(Hz) map across directly. This is one of the best fits at Sydney for a solid-state spin-sensing candidate.
The Hosseini Lab (Quantum Atom Optics) investigates light–atom interactions in rare-earth crystals, room-temperature gases, and nanophotonic structures. Directions: (1) Quantum optical memories in Tm³⁺:YAG and Er³⁺-doped solids using atomic frequency comb (AFC) and gradient echo memory (GEM) protocols for telecom-wavelength quantum networking; demonstrated efficient storage of multi-dimensional telecom photons (Optica Quantum 2025, Phys. Rev. Appl. 2025); (2) Cooperative/collective light–matter interactions in periodic rare-earth ion arrays in nano/micro-photonic structures (collaboration with Oak Ridge NL, Aydin group) for enhanced quantum memory coherence; (3) Quantum squeezed light — applied to enhanced thermoreflectance sensing of electronic hotspots (Appl. Phys. Lett. 2024); (4) Coherent levitation of macroscopic sensors (DARPA YFA 2024, $500k): magnetic and optical trapping of mm-scale objects as high-Q oscillators for magnetometry, vibrational sensing, accelerometry, inertial, and force sensing. Lab actively seeking postdocs in integrated photonics, quantum memory, and levitation sensing (2024–2025). ASEE Curtis W. McGraw Research Award 2026.
Kuhn leads the Atom-Photon Connection group, working at the single-atom, single-photon level. Key research thrusts: (1) deterministic generation of indistinguishable single photons from single atoms in high-finesse cavities, with cluster-state production for one-way quantum computing; (2) development of integrated fibre-tip microcavities with small radius-of-curvature for >50% photon capture efficiency and direct fibre coupling; (3) single-photon quantum memories using cavity-coupled atom systems; and (4) optical trapping of single atoms in the Lamb-Dicke regime for quantum simulation and networking. The group uses reinforcement learning for optimal quantum control of atom-cavity systems.
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.
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.
Peter Lodahl's Quantum Photonics Group develops deterministic photon-emitter interfaces using semiconductor quantum dots embedded in photonic nanostructures (nanowires, photonic crystal waveguides). Research targets: single-photon sources with near-unity efficiency and indistinguishability; spin-photon interfaces for quantum repeaters; integrated quantum photonic circuits; and quantum networks based on single emitters. The group leads the Hy-Q Centre for Hybrid Quantum Networks and holds several quantum technology patents and spin-out companies. Borderline case — primarily quantum photonics for networking but with quantum sensing applications (single photon sensing, spin-photon).
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.
Anders Sørensen's Theoretical Quantum Optics group develops theories for controlling individual quantum systems (atoms, photons, solid-state emitters) with focus on quantum information processing and communication. Research includes protocols for quantum repeaters, quantum networks, optomechanical systems, and transduction between microwave and optical frequencies. Strong collaboration with experimental groups at NBI and internationally; core member of the Hy-Q centre.
Carrie Weidner's GECKO group develops experimental quantum sensing and simulation with cold atoms and hot atomic vapours. Key directions: (1) robust atom interferometry for 6-axis inertial sensing using optical lattice potentials (EPSRC-funded, Infleqtion partnership); (2) magnetic field imaging with squeezed light in hot atom vapour cells (wide-field OPM-type sensing using Faraday rotation); (3) quantum optimal control theory for atom interferometric sensors. The group is establishing a full ultracold atom apparatus for quantum simulation and sensing. Active postdoc positions.