Summary: One of France's most prestigious grandes écoles, part of the Institut Polytechnique de Paris (IP Paris). The Laboratoire Charles Fabry (LCF, IOGS/X) is one of Europe's finest quantum optics and laser physics laboratories — key sensing groups: Aspect heritage/Boiron (ultracold atom interferometry, quantum simulation); Grangier (quantum optics, homodyne sensing, non-classical light); Treps/Fabre (multimode quantum optics for quantum metrology — both bio and astro). The Laboratoire de Physique de la Matière Condensée (LPMC) contributes materials sensing. Co-location with IOGS and proximity to Paris-Saclay make this a node in France's strongest quantum sensing cluster. Well above its ODS ranking in experimental quantum sensing quality.
Notes: France's most prestigious grande école, part of Institut Polytechnique de Paris (IP Paris). Laboratoire Charles Fabry (LCF): Aspect legacy (cold atoms), Grangier (quantum optics, homodyne detection), Treps/Fabre (multimode quantum metrology). LPMC (condensed matter). On Paris-Saclay campus cluster. Strong industry (Thales, Safran) partnerships.
Warnings: École Polytechnique's quantum sensing groups (particularly LCF — Boiron/cold atoms, Grangier/quantum optics) are world-class and arguably underrepresented by its ODS position. Strongly recommended for candidates in quantum-enhanced metrology and atom interferometry.
Emmanuel Beaurepaire (DR1 CNRS, LOB/École Polytechnique) is a pioneer of multiphoton and harmonic generation deep-tissue microscopy. Research: (1) two-photon excited fluorescence (2PEF) and three-photon deep-tissue brain imaging; (2) second-harmonic generation (SHG) and third-harmonic generation (THG) label-free imaging of collagen, myosin, myelin; (3) multimodal 3-photon light-sheet microscopy with ultrafast lasers; (4) metabolic imaging using FLIM/NADH. Key LOB permanent staff (May 2024). Active collaboration with LCF/Lasers group on ultrafast laser development.
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.
Laurent Sanchez-Palencia (CNRS DR / Professor, CPHT, École Polytechnique) leads the Quantum Matter theory group. Research: (1) many-body quantum simulation with cold atoms in optical lattices — disorder and Anderson localisation, strongly correlated phases; (2) ultracold atoms in optical quasicrystals and moiré lattices — exotic band structures and correlated phases; (3) quantum entanglement and metrology — theoretical proposals for entanglement-enhanced sensing; (4) non-equilibrium quantum dynamics and thermalization. Deputy Director Quantum-Saclay. ERC Starting 2011. Prix Leconte 2012 (Académie des Sciences). Moved to CPHT from Institut d'Optique 2016.
Marie-Claire Schanne-Klein (DR1 CNRS, LOB) specializes in polarized SHG and THG microscopy for structural tissue imaging. Research: (1) polarimetric SHG imaging of collagen fibril organization — molecular orientation mapping; (2) THG microscopy for myelin and red blood cell imaging; (3) structural and functional label-free imaging of connective tissues; (4) multi-scale SHG/THG analysis of biopolymer structure. SHG expert in LOB.
Chiara Stringari (CRCN CNRS, LOB) develops FLIM-based metabolic imaging. Research: (1) fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) of NAD(P)H and FAD in live tissue for label-free metabolic mapping; (2) phasor analysis of FLIM data for cellular metabolism states; (3) imaging of myelin dynamics using label-free nonlinear microscopy; (4) metabolic imaging in development and disease. 2025 paper on myelin in Optica.
Willy Supatto (DR2 CNRS, LOB) develops ultrafast two-photon light-sheet microscopy for quantitative in vivo imaging of embryo development and tissue dynamics. Research: (1) two-photon SPIM (light-sheet) for volumetric live imaging in zebrafish embryos; (2) SHG imaging of fibrillar proteins; (3) polarization-THG microscopy of structural anisotropy; (4) photodamage in multiphoton imaging. Part of key LOB team with Beaurepaire.
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.