Our ability to manipulate and effectively apply superconducting technologies – technologies using materials that conduct electricity without energy loss – is opening up new opportunities to routinely use quantum coherence effects in a range of devices.
Quantum properties are known to happen in the extremely small world of fundamental particles and atoms, and these properties are mostly counterintuitive. However, in larger, macroscopic objects quantum properties are often destroyed. Consequently, normally electrons experience energy losses when moving inside a large metallic electrical conductor. But in a superconductor, for example, electrons move without experiencing such losses. Quantum coherence describes macroscopic systems, such as superconductors, which can preserve quantum properties.
Preserving the stability of a system in terms of disruption of quantum properties is critical for many applications in quantum technologies, including quantum computing, quantum communications, and precision measurements. These quantum technologies will deliver, amongst other applications, more sensitive measurement devices, more powerful magnets, and more robust quantum computers, that can make significant impacts in computing, health, energy and the environment as well as many other areas
Leading position in quantum
Europe has built up a leading position in superconducting quantum technologies over recent years, but the various scientific and technical communities were somewhat dispersed. The main goals of the COST Action NANOCOHYBRI were to provide a common area to share knowledge and infrastructure and develop new projects: goals that have been achieved and more!
Discover NANOCOHYBRI and the potential applications of its research:
Professor Hermann Suderow from the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid was the Chair of the Action.
“I had been involved in previous COST Actions and the benefits gained from the experience motivated myself and others to propose this Action,” he explains. “The Action was an opportunity to put together new people in the field of nanofabrication, materials, and calculations, where great advances have been made. We saw that we were at a point where quantum coherence had matured to become something tangible from the point of view of application in society.”
“We have really laid out the future for the field”
Prof. Hermann Suderow, Chair of the Action NANOCOHYBRI
The Action aimed to include a very wide community. “We wanted to try to put together the efforts of more people and organise meetings in more diverse places with the aim to bring the field forward to the next level,” says Hermann.
The work of the Action certainly helped build the community and improved the possibilities of collaboration and networking across Europe. “We brought new people into the game, especially researchers from ITC countries,” continues Hermann. “Thanks to our networking activities they were better positioned to get into other EU funding processes and also within their national funding schemes.”
There was also a focus on younger researchers, which was very successful. “We held 12 meetings during the Action and at each one we limited the number of presentations from more senior participants and allowed the younger researchers to take the stage and present their results.”
This initiative, in combination with the Actions activities such as STSMs, has really stimulated the research area. “I feel we have really laid out the future for the field,” states Hermann.
Quantum escape
In addition to supporting the next generation of researchers, the Action has also yielded a substantial portfolio of around 50 new projects and collaborations – many funded at the EU level – and an extensive library of publications. More than 300 scientific articles, many in prestigious journals such as Nature and Science, acknowledge NANOCOHYBRI.
In addition, a book for teenagers – ‘Quantum Escape’ – emerged from the network activities, led by Working Group leader Brigitte Leridon. “The book was surprising and a consequence of the pandemic,” explains Hermann. “A group of people came together to discuss how to explain our science to the general public – how to make it more accessible”. The book uses an adventure story to try to explain some concepts of quantum coherence on a large scale and aims to motivate young people into Physics. Currently available in French, the book will be soon available in other languages.
The NANOCOHYBRI research network remains a very active community. “Lots of developments with new quantum materials that do strange and interesting things are happening and we are fortunate to be continuing through a new COST Action SUPERQUMAP.” Hermann concludes.
Additional information
Read more about COST Action Nanoscale Coherent Hybrid Devices for Superconducting Quantum Technologies (NANOCOHYBRI)
Discover the Network website
Read more about COST Action SUPERCONDUCTING NANODEVICES AND QUANTUM MATERIALS FOR COHERENT MANIPULATION (SUPERQUMAP)
