Cavendish Laboratory Quantum Research (Cambridge)

Quantum research at the University of Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory, including the new IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre at the Ray Dolby Centre.

About Cavendish Laboratory Quantum Research (Cambridge)

The Cavendish Laboratory is the University of Cambridge's physics department, and it is a central part of Cambridge's quantum research community. Quantum Cambridge's website covers work on computing, sensing, communications and materials, and the Cavendish hosts groups such as Quantum Optical Materials and Systems (QOMS), which describes itself as a solid-state quantum optics science and applications research group. It studies spin-based quantum networks, nanoscale quantum sensing and new materials for quantum devices, using semiconductor quantum dots, colour centres in diamond and atomically thin layered materials.

We did not find a formal mission statement. The QOMS group describes its aim as understanding quantum science and applications using solid-state light-matter interfaces. At the university level, the partnership with IonQ is described as accelerating research and advancing scalable quantum computing, networking, sensing and security, bringing physics, engineering, medicine, computer science and policy experts together with industry and users from the start, and building the UK's quantum talent pool.

The IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre sits in the Ray Dolby Centre, the new home of the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge. It will host a 256-qubit IonQ quantum computer, planned to be the UK's most powerful, and the National Quantum Computing Centre will give researchers and early-stage companies across the UK access to computing time for three years. Cambridge Enterprise, the university's innovation arm, will manage the computer. The partnership will also co-develop quantum network nodes and sensing, including strengthening the Cambridge to Bristol quantum network.

The people quoted include Professor Mete Atature, Head of the Cavendish Laboratory, and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Prentice, who called it the first partnership of its kind for a UK university. Roger McKinlay of Innovate UK, Professor Sir Peter Knight, who chairs the National Quantum Technologies Programme advisory board, and Science Minister Lord Vallance also commented. The QOMS group's page shows four laboratories with cryostats, scanning probe stations, laser and microwave systems and a clean room for making devices, which gives a sense of the hands-on work.

The partnership funds academic posts, postdoctoral researchers and PhD students. Other roles include experimental physicists, theorists, engineers who build and run laboratory equipment, clean room technicians, research software developers, and professional staff in Cambridge Enterprise and the university. The Cavendish's own site lists current job openings, and the QOMS group invited visitors to check them.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Research on quantum dots, diamond colour centres and layered materials.', 'title': 'Solid-state quantum optics'}
• {'desc': 'Planned home of a 256-qubit quantum computer open to UK users.', 'title': 'IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre'}
• {'desc': 'Co-developing network nodes and sensors, including the Cambridge to Bristol network.', 'title': 'Quantum networks and sensing'}

Key facts

• Cavendish Laboratory is moving into the Ray Dolby Centre, home of the IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre
• The IonQ machine has 256 qubits and is planned to be the UK's most powerful quantum computer
• QOMS group runs four laboratories including a clean room
• Head of the Cavendish: Professor Mete Atature

Website: www.quantum.cam.ac.uk