Quantum Simulators for Fundamental Physics
Lead Research Organisation:
Royal Holloway University of London
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
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Publications
Bunney C
(2024)
Third sound detectors in accelerated motion
in New Journal of Physics
Kumar S
(2023)
A novel architecture for room temperature microwave optomechanical experiments
in Journal of Applied Physics
Kumar S
(2024)
Optomechanically induced transparency/absorption in a 3D microwave cavity architecture at ambient temperature
in AIP Advances
| Description | Research Fellows Enhanced Research Expenses 2021 |
| Amount | £168,934 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RF\ERE\210198 |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | University Research Fellowship Renewals 2021 |
| Amount | £397,868 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | URF\R\211009 |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Title | Microwave Optomechanical Sensing and Signal Processing |
| Description | This research has led to improvements in research infrastructure by developing a novel microwave optomechanical device with applications in sensing and signal processing. Our work demonstrates a room-temperature system that couples a 3D microwave cavity to a flexible membrane, enabling precise motion detection and the observation of optomechanically induced transparency/absorption (OMIT/OMIA) for the first time in microwave optomechanics. By enhancing optomechanical coupling, we achieve up to 25 dB signal amplification and 20 dB attenuation, offering a tunable, cost-effective alternative to cryogenic systems. These advancements have potential applications in quantum sensing, telecommunications, and signal processing. The research is now under active consideration for industry partnerships, with efforts underway to secure UKRI seed funding for further development, patent development, and commercialisation. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Our development of a room-temperature microwave optomechanical system has had several notable impacts. The research has advanced experimental capabilities in optomechanics by enabling precise motion detection and signal processing without the need for cryogenic cooling. This has broadened accessibility to such technologies, reducing costs and technical barriers for researchers and potential industrial users. The method has been adopted within our own team to explore new sensing and signal processing applications and has attracted interest from external collaborators, including industry partners (e.g. Drumgrange) considering its integration into commercial technologies. |
| Title | A Novel Architecture for room temperature microwave optomechanical experiments |
| Description | The dataset contains cavity optomechanical measurements of the Si3N4 membrane at room temperature. These datasets correspond to different techniques to extract single photon coupling rate g0. The files with the name starting with fig_2 are about the characterization of the microwave cavity (S21) and Si3N4 membrane (noise spectrum). The file names with initials as fig_3 is contains data of noise spectrum when Si3N4 membrane is driven by white noise using piezoelectric transducer. It is the file names with initials as fig_4 that are about the optically induced transparency/absorption, while the file names with initials as fig_5 are about the driven nonlinear Si3N4 membrane. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Dataset created as part of our work on precise mechanical motion measurement. |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/7589222 |
| Title | Optomechanically Induced Transparency/Absorption in a 3D Microwave Cavity Architecture at Ambient Temperature |
| Description | I have uploaded a folder titled "OMIT_paper," which contains various subfolders named after different power levels, such as "6.0_dBm" for 6 dBm of pump power. Within each of these power-named folders, there's a subfolder named "OMIT_50." Inside "OMIT_50," there are two distinct folders: "wc-wm" and "wc+wm." The "wc-wm" folder holds files that are used for plotting the S_21 parameter at a negative detuning relative to the resonance frequency of the cavity. Conversely, the "wc+wm" folder contains files for plotting the S_21 parameter at a positive detuning in relation to the cavity's resonance frequency. To create the colormaps depicted in Figure 3, it is necessary to calculate the average of all S_21 values found in the files within both the "wc-wm" and "wc+wm" folders, corresponding to each specified pump power level. The powers range from -5 dBm to 26 dBm, increasing in increments of 1 dBm. To produce Figure 4, it's necessary to determine the maximum and minimum values of S_21, depending on whether the context is gain or absorption. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This dataset was used in the work published at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0187065 |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/doi/10.5281/zenodo.10560931 |
| Description | Superfluid helium simulators |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | My research team has contributed to this collaboration through discussions on theory, design, fabrication of superfluid helium based optomechanical systems, and cryogenic instrumentation to be used at Royal Holloway with a microwave readout scheme and at University of Nottingham with an optical readout scheme. |
| Collaborator Contribution | My partners at University of Nottingham have provided theoretical support on the description of analogue systems with superfluid helium based optomechanical systems. My partners at University of Lancaster have provided experimental support on cryogenic instrumentation to develop an optical readout measurement scheme, which could be operated at 1.2 K in the presence of a vortex flow. |
| Impact | A theoretical publication describing how superfluid-based optomechanical systems can be used as third sound detectors in accelerated motion was submitted in Feb 2023. (title: Third sound detectors in accelerated motion, e-print version: https://arxiv.org/abs/2302.12023) |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | EPSRC Quantum Technologies visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A presentation on the Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics (QTFP) programme was delivered to the joint heads of the EPSRC Quantum Technology Programme. The talk highlighted the scope of activities at Royal Holloway within QTFP, including the Quantum Simulator for Fundamental Physics (QSimFP), Quantum Enhanced Superfluid Technologies for Dark Matter and Cosmology (QuestDMC), and Quantum Sensors for the Hidden Sector (QSHS). The presentation aimed to communicate the breadth and impact of these research efforts, fostering engagement and potential collaborations within the UK quantum technology landscape. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Open day at RHUL |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I presented our departmental low temperature activities, which include work on QSimFP, to a broad audience of prospective students and their relatives. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Open days at RHUL |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A demonstration of an analogue of quantum mechanics using a hydrodynamic system was conducted, illustrating key concepts in an accessible and visually engaging way. The activity served to introduce the public to quantum physics, our portfolio of BSc projects, while also showcasing ongoing research at our institution. This takes place in the context of Open Days for prospective students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Quantum Technology Showcase |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | At the Quantum Technologies Showcase in London, a demonstration was presented at our booth featuring nanofabricated chips used to confine superfluid helium for experiments. The primary objective was to showcase RHUL's contributions to the Quantum Simulators for Fundamental Physics programme. The demo attracted interest from attendees, fostering discussions on our research and its potential applications, helping to raise awareness of our work within the wider quantum technologies community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Web communication |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | As Communication Lead for the Department of Physics at RHUL, I oversee the dissemination of research outcomes to a broad audience by publishing news articles on our webpages. This initiative aims to highlight key advancements, promote departmental activities, and engage both academic and public audiences with our research, fostering greater visibility and impact. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/about-us/news/royal-holloway-secures-funding-to-help-solve-mysteries... |