IIT Delhi forms Centre of Excellence on Quantum Technologies

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has established a Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Quantum Technologies to integrate IIT Delhi’s research activity in various fields of Quantum Technologies. The CoE will bring synergy and coherence in the activities that are being carried out at IIT Delhi. It will also assist the principal investigators to participate in several significant projects from the DST and other agencies.

Rajendra Singh, Head, School of Interdisciplinary Research (SIRe) and lead PI, IIT Delhi’s CoE on Quantum Technologies, stated, “Over the last century or more, quantum physics has had an unparalleled impact on civilisation. Researchers invented both the laser and the transistor by utilising quantum physics properties of light and materials. These inventions serve as the foundation for information technology as a whole – computers, the internet, and much more – which has altered our society to a considerable extent. That was the start of the first quantum revolution. The second quantum revolution is rapidly approaching, owing to advances in our ability to detect and manipulate single quantum objects such as photons and atoms.”

Following the initiatives taken by several countries like the USA, China, Japan, EU and UK, the Indian government has also invested into this technology and sanctioned Rs. 8000 crores for research in the area of quantum technology.

Prof Singh further added , “The focus areas will be quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing and metrology and quantum materials and devices.”

Apart from design and development of new quantum materials research activities related to quantum processor and cryogenic controller, modeling and technology development of semiconducting qubits: CMOS and 2D materials, quantum sensing and metrology, quantum bio-photonics, development of single photon detectors and sources: Based on semiconductors (2D materials, III-V), superconductors, development of bright single and entangled photon sources based on SPDC, quantum secure communication in free space and optical, fibre, quantum imaging and sensing using quantum correlated photons” will also be carried out.