Guests of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at TU Darmstadt

My field of research is fascinating. To laymen I would explain it in the following comprehensible manner:

We all use computers, smartphones, and communicate over the internet. Nowadays, most of these are based on technologies that use electrons, but they will reach their physical limits soon. Technologies based on quantum computation with optical bits of information are a promising alternative, but they require appropriate quantum memories. One of the main problems for such quantum memories is decoherence, i.e., unwanted interaction between a quantum bit and its environment, which introduces errors in the memory. I work to design new techniques to avoid or reduce this problem, e.g., by applying sequences of pulses that prevent the quantum bits to be affected by the environment.

My most important success in research to date is:

designing universal sequences of pulses that compensate any error in a pulse as long as it can be repeated (we just need to add something called a phase to each of the pulses)

I’ve chosen the TU Darmstadt because…

the Nonlinear Optics/Quantum Optics group of Prof. Halfmann. It is one of the best experimental groups in the world in quantum memories for light in solid-state materials such as rare-earth ions doped into dielectric crystals. The working environment in the group is great, and it is also very beneficial for me as a theorist to work with such an experimental group.

If I were a student today, I would read more books outside the curriculum, learn more mathematics, and talk more to my professors.

The perfect balance to a stressful working day is any outdoor activity (running, riding a bicycle, hiking), dancing, and a conversation with friends in the park.

With the help of my host in Darmstadt I would like to make the most efficient and robust quantum memory in doped solids.