Fostering Excellence in Photonics and Quantum Science

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1 Publishable summary Fostering Excellence in Photonics and Quantum Science Project website address: Project Coordinator: Prof. Konrad Banaszek, Uniwersytet Warszawski, Wydział Fizyki ul. Hoża Warszawa Poland Project summary (months: 1-18) 1. Summary description of project context and objectives The objective of the Support Action funded through the Research Potential programme of the 7 th Framework Programme is to establish the Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw (FPUW) as a multidisciplinary centre of excellence in Photonics and Quantum Science (PhoQuS). Photonics and Quantum Science are transforming 21st century science and engineering through delivering scientific and technological breakthroughs in areas as diverse as telecommunication, biomedical diagnostics, energy sources and environmental monitoring, as well as advancing our understanding of nature by reaching extreme scales of size, time and intensity in light-matter interactions and exploring subtle quantum aspects of the microworld. FPUW is uniquely positioned to become one of European leaders in this rapidly developing field through exploiting its traditional excellence in theoretical and experimental physics to stimulate innovation-driven research assisted by recent major infrastructure upgrades co-financed from the European Regional Development Fund. PhoQuS@UW will help to unlock this potential with a set of coherent measures. Sustainable cooperation with thirteen leading European research institutions in the PhoQuS@UW area are being established by partner visits and secondments of FPUW staff (WP1). Experienced researchers in most promising fields such as biomedical optics, attoscience, environmental optics, quantum optics, and quantum metrology are being recruited to strengthen the human capital (WP2). Available infrastructure is augmented by purchases of additional equipment PhoQuS@UW - PUBLISHABLE SUMMARY : Page 1 of 5

2 to create new opportunities for experimental research (WP3). Innovation-stimulating mechanisms are being implemented in close collaboration with regional industrial stakeholders (WP4). A number of scientific conferences, workshops, and symposia have been and will be organized to share state-of-the-art knowledge. All these activities are complemented by events designed to raise public awareness of research and to encourage science and engineering careers. Within WP1: Networking through exchange of know-how and experience we aim: - to build FPUW intellectual capacity and to promote increased scientific dialogue and twinning between the FPUW and thirteen top research centres via secondments of experienced scientific staff to transfer knowledge, new research methodologies and techniques, discuss research progress, share experimental data, work on joint research proposals and publications in top scientific journals; - to create a forum for exchange of scientific ideas, techniques, and approaches and to share the results of recent research activities through organisation of workshops and conferences. In WP2: Building human capital through recruitment of experienced researchers we build FPUW human capital by recruiting experienced researchers with international experience in the strategically defined areas of photonics. In WP3: Research equipment upgrades we build the capacity of the UWAW research base by acquisition and installation of the equipment as well as monitoring of the equipment operation, hiring and supervision of engineers/technicians. The main objective of WP4: Dissemination, Exploitation and Innovation Capacity Building is to facilitate a shift from curiosity-driven basic research to innovation driven research at the FPUW. The second objective of this work package is to disseminate, exploit and promote among a broader research community, local and regional stakeholders and the general public the results of this project and research achievements of FPUW and its scientific collaborators. The main objectives of WP5: Project management are to assure efficient and professional management of PhoQuS@UW and to integrate the research community and services supporting management and administration of projects. WP6 in accordance with Annex I was not foreseen to be implemented in the first reporting period. 2. Description of work performed and main results In order to achieve the objectives of WP1, the project has offered opportunities for incoming and outgoing secondments between FPUW and top level European groups, which led to exchange of know-how and experience. To foster communication and exchange of scientific ideas and latest discoveries between researchers from the FPUW and the international research community, PhoQuS@UW has organized or jointly co-organized five scientific events, including an international conference "Quantum Optics VIII", the "3rd Polish Optical Conference", a session "Plasmon enhanced diffractive elements" during 15th ICTON, the hands-on advanced workshop on "Molecular beam epitaxy" and a session on "Photonic Fibers I" during "15th COFTA". Additionally the FPUW PhoQuS@UW - PUBLISHABLE SUMMARY : Page 2 of 5

3 researchers attended in international meetings, conferences and workshops, as participation in such events assures worldwide confrontation with the newest scientific achievements and discoveries. The WP2 is devoted to identifying and hiring post-doctoral researchers who will work for the Faculty of Physics University of Warsaw to strengthen the research potential in critical areas: femto/atto-science, quantum optics an bio-photonics. According to the university regulations each position is filled in an open contest advertised on the Faculty of Physics home page, the web page of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and EURAXESS. In addition we have advertised the positions in the printed and internet media. The candidates were screened, evaluated and interviewed by the Selection Committee and approved by the Faculty Council. As a result the total of 6 persons have been hired for the position of adjunct professor. In accordance with the plan of WP3 the purchase procedures for the following equipment were carried out through open tenders: - a set of three research grade cameras - a laser pulsed source with octave-spanning spectrum - a tuneable source of femtosecond laser pulses - a Scanning Electron Microscope The characteristics of the equipment has been carefully specified and optimal choices have been selected. Completion of those steps opens up a wide range of exciting experimental opportunities for scientists at the FPUW. The engineers have been successfully recruited and work on projects that will enable full exploitation of the potential of new equipment. A full time Innovation Manager was recruited and hired at the FPUW. The first one was Dr. Radosława Bach, who was later replaced by Dr. Cezary Samojłowicz. Both innovation managers had good understanding of the scientific area of research performed at the Faculty and basic understanding of intellectual property management. They implemented at FPUW IPR protection and management guidelines. The webpage has been launched to disseminate and promote the achievements in photonics and quantum science at the FPUW within the European Research Area community. Three issues of PhoQuS@UW Newsletter have been edited and published. Raising the public awareness of the science and encouraging science careers was realized through several actions organized for wide public meetings as well as workshops and lectures addressed to narrower audience. Promotional products, such as project s posters, leaflets and gadgets were distributed among the participants of organized events. A full time Project Manager Dr Lidia Tańska was recruited and hired at the FPUW. Day-to-day project management is run at two levels: WP and the general management of the Project. The above construction of the management structure was enable monitoring of work progress, especially in terms of its quality and engagement of the entities participating in activities of the PhoQuS@UW Project. During the kick-off meeting and the first IAB meeting the overall strategy and implementation of Action Plan of PhoQuS@UW project were presented. PhoQuS@UW - PUBLISHABLE SUMMARY : Page 3 of 5

4 3. Expected final results and potential impacts The partnerships with leading European institutions were carefully selected based on careful analysis of trends in the development of European Research Area priorities. Photonics and Quantum Science are playing a transformative role in 21 st century science and technology. The impact of this area of research extends from fundamental physics, such as detection of gravitational waves using highly precise interferometers operating at the quantum limit, through life and environmental sciences, including new approaches to optical imaging and ultrasensitive pollution detection, ending on widely spread technologies, with the prominent example of fibre optic communications whose advances rely increasingly on efficient, compact and robust semiconductor laser light sources and all-optical signal processing. Currently, a great deal of effort is devoted to the development of new modes of light-matter interactions that would have an equally thorough impact on modern science and technology. Prospective breakthroughs include sub-wavelength imaging, non-invasive diagnostic tools for medicine, and secure communication guaranteed by fundamental physical principles. The breadth of these examples illuminates the exceptional potential of photonics and quantum physics to impact future research and technology development. Photonics and Quantum Science remain in the spotlight of the Europe 2020 strategy. Combined actions of the project, including partnership building through secondments, exchange of know-how and experience through high-profile events such as international conferences, special sessions and workshops jointly will contribute to achieving strategic impacts mentioned above. Acquisition of modern research equipment will complement large-scale investments in a new infrastructure and modern facilities financed from the ERDF. This equipment will be used by many FPUW scientists, in effect having a high impact on generating new research techniques, application of novel methods and new discoveries. Albeit important and necessary for successful implementation of all activities proposed in PhoQuS@UW the acquisition of scientific equipment planned in this project only complements the large investments already carried out by the large scale research and education infrastructure investments such as Centre for Preclinical Research and Technologies (CePT) and Centre for New Technologies (CENT) projects as well as the National Laboratory for Quantum Technologies (NLQT). The primary source of addressing the pressing issue of outdated and underfinanced research infrastructure in Poland during have been European (Structural) Funds, of which abundance FPUW is a very successful beneficiary. The proposed actions of PhoQuS@UW achieve empowering synergy between European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) investment and national funding by focusing on hiring of international top scientists (with a particular emphasis on nationals returning from abroad) and the strengthening and sustainability of partnerships with leading European research groups. The Project is to contribute to the regional high-tech economy and sustainable regional socio-economic development through close cooperation with the industry. To facilitate the innovation-driven research we have created the Innovation Committee composed of national and regional stakeholders that have interest in optical, photonic, biomedical imaging and optometric industry. The first workshop targeting to business partners and organized on January 30, 2014, was attended by about 40 persons involved in optical, photonic, biomedical imaging and optometric research and industry. Most of them were from Warsaw and Mazovian Region. It resulted in the first Open Day organized a few days after the workshop for representatives of Polish Centre of Optoelectronics in the Information Optics Laboratory. PhoQuS@UW - PUBLISHABLE SUMMARY : Page 4 of 5

5 Partner s Number Partner s name List of Partnering organisations The leading cooperating divisions of FPUW Country 1 The Institute of Photonic Sciences, Barcelona ITP-QOAPD Spain 2 University of Ulm ITP-QOAPD Germany 3 University of Oxford IEP-OD UK 4 University of Geneva IEP-OD Switzerland 5 University of Copenhagen IEP-OD Denmark 6 Institut d Optique Graduate School, Palaiseau IG-DIO France 7 Vrije Universiteit Brussel IG-DIO Belgium 8 Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, Munich IEP-OD Germany 9 Heidelberg University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Max IEP-OD, Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, ITP-QOAPD Germany Heidelberg 10 University of Rome La Sapienza IG-DIO Italy 11 Grenoble High Magnetic Field Laboratory IEP-SSD France 12 University of Bremen IEP-SSD Germany 13 University of Düsseldorf ITP-QOAPD Germany Legend: Institute of Experimental Physics: Optics Department (IEP-OD) and Solid State Division (IEP-SSD); Institute of Theoretical Physics: Quantum Optics and Atomic Physics Department (ITP-QOAPD); Institute of Geophysics: Department of Information Optics (IG-DIO). PhoQuS@UW - PUBLISHABLE SUMMARY : Page 5 of 5