The University of Trieste has inaugurated two new quantum physics laboratories: the ARQUS laboratory (laboratory for artificial quantum systems), which will study artificial quantum systems by controlling individual atoms, and the QCI laboratory (laboratory for quantum communication and information), which will research and develop new solutions for quantum communication in optical fiber and free space. The two new laboratories are located in the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNR) in the Basowiza Regional Science Park and are led by Francesco Scazza, associate professor of physical physics at the Department of Physics at the University of Trieste, and Alessandro Z**atta, senior research scientist at the National Institute of Optics (INOCNR) of the Italian National Center for Scientific Research.
The use of these laboratories has also been added to the new master's program in quantum science and technology, the master's program in physics of matter, and the three-year undergraduate program in physics. The University of Trieste has a recognized tradition in the field of quantum mechanics and collaborates in synergy with important international research institutions.
Arqus Labs.
The ARQUS laboratory is the only artificial quantum system laboratory in Italy, with the aim of creating artificial quantum systems through the precise control of a single ytterbium atom. Francesco Skazza, head of the lab, explains: "The cold atomic quantum system implemented by the ARQUS laboratory can be used as a prototype to study the interaction of a large number of quantum particles, creating so-called quantum simulators. Precise control of individual atoms can also be used to produce strongly correlated states of matter, such as entangled multi-particle states, which are an important resource for future quantum computers and atomic clocks. ”
QCI Laboratories
The QCI Laboratory was established to serve the research and technology development of new solutions for fiber optic quantum communication, as well as to train physics and engineering students at the University of Trieste and to collaborate with leading research and training institutions in the field. The field of quantum information is a new discipline born after the fusion of information science and quantum mechanics, which is actually a promising field that has made significant progress in recent years. The lab's instruments can generate quantum cryptographic keys and conduct ultra-secure communication experiments, so researchers are working to lay the groundwork for a true quantum network that can manipulate and transmit data with maximum security.
Angelo Bassi, a full professor in the Department of Theoretical Physics, Models and Mathematical Methods and coordinator of the projects that led to the establishment of the laboratory, stresses that "in traditional computer networks data can be intercepted, but in quantum networks this is not possible, and any intrusion is immediately detected, which is the certainty guaranteed by the principles of quantum mechanics themselves." Quantum communication systems have great potential and strategic application prospects in the political and commercial fields. ”
Alessandro Zavata, head of the laboratory, explained: "Quantum communication is an advanced, highly secure way of transmitting information, taking advantage of the special properties of quantum physics. In our laboratory, we use state-of-the-art optical instruments to control and manipulate individual photons (the building blocks of light) with extraordinary precision. This ability to process light down to the level of a single photon allows us to implement secure, inviolable communication schemes. Encouragingly, our efforts extend beyond addressing current threats to preventing potential risks posed by future technologies, such as the development of quantum computers. By continuing on this path, we will make a significant contribution to ensuring secure communications, even in the face of increasingly complex situations. ”