IUPAP Photo Contest: Celebrating Quantum Imagination—Pasquale Ercolano

Beyond Our Eyes: 3rd place photo, A microscopic detector toward quantum innovation, by Pasquale Ercolano

To celebrate the 100 years since the formulation of quantum mechanics, the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) launched an international photo contest to capture the beauty of quantum research and technology developed worldwide, as well as the presence of quantum science and technology in our daily lives. 

The competition, part of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ2025) global events, opened submissions on June 9 in two categories:  

Beyond Our Eyes

“Dedicated to images captured using scientific instruments or produced through simulations of quantum processes, bringing to life phenomena we can’t usually see.”

At a Glance

Welcomed photos “that revealed the aesthetic beauty of scientific instruments, visible quantum effects in nature, such as light patterns, or creative interpretations inspired by quantum concepts.”

Through these categories, IUPAP encouraged scientists, students, and enthusiasts to look beyond technical boundaries and explore the poetry within science. 

The IUPAP–IYQ2025 Photo Contest received submissions from around the world until August 31. After rigorous review, the jury selected winning photographs for their scientific relevance and artistic quality. The IUPAP announced the six winners (three for each category) on October 24. In this series of IYQ blog posts, we intend to feature each winning photograph and the artist who created it, one for each post. 

Beyond Crystals: A microscopic detector toward quantum innovation, photo by Pasquale Ercolano, 3rd place in the category Beyond Our Eyes

“As a physics PhD student, I focus on superconducting strip photon
detectors, with applications in quantum optics and quantum
communication,” Pasquale Ercolano states. “My image, taken through an optical microscope, shows a
photon-number-resolving detector that I personally fabricated. It
captures not only the intricate structure of a quantum device, but also
the journey of its creation, from raw materials to its integration
within a cryostat. The detector symbolizes the advancement of
photon-based quantum technologies, broadening the horizon of their
applications.”