Accurate characterization of the environmental effects on a quantum system remains a fundamental challenge in the theory of open quantum systems. In this talk, I will introduce the purified pseudomode approach developed by us recently. This method allows for efficient modeling and numerically exact simulation of general linear-Gaussian baths. Extensions of this method to model bath input-output and nonlinear system-bath interactions will also be discussed.
Implementation of a Groundbreaking 12,900 km Ultra-secure Quantum Satellite Link Between South Africa and China
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) has emerged as a revolutionary technology for secure communication, leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics to ensure unbreakable encryption. Recent advancements in space-based QKD have enabled global-scale secure communication by utilizing microsatellites as cost-effective and efficient platforms for key distribution. Here, we will be presenting our recent groundbreaking results on the first quantum satellite link implemented in the Southern Hemisphere and the longest intercontinental ultra-secure quantum satellite link of 12,900 km between South Africa and China.
NITheCS Mini-School – An Introduction to Quantum Biology
Quantum biology is an exciting field of research with a pronounced interdisciplinary focus. The aim of the mini-school is to first address the miscommunications that might arise from this interdisciplinarity. The first lecture will begin with a short history of quantum biology before clarifying some of the important concepts in the field, from the point of view of both physics and biology. The second lecture will build on this by reviewing the different biological contexts in which quantum effects may play a role, which include photosynthesis, enzyme catalysis, DNA mutation, receptor binding, microtubule and mitochondrial function, magnetoreception, regulation of the production of ROS, calcium ion storage and release, and potentially, consciousness. The final lectures will focus on two different worked examples: a spin-based model of entangled neural activation by calcium phosphate molecules and a vibration-assisted tunnelling model for the binding of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to its host cell.
Harvard Quantum Shorts Contest
In celebration of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, the Harvard Quantum Initiative invites students ages 14–19 to participate in an exciting global competition!
Create and submit a short video that explores a topic in quantum science—whether it’s quantum computing, entanglement, superposition, or any concept that inspires you. This is your chance to showcase your scientific insight, creativity, and passion for discovery.
Selected winners will receive an exclusive opportunity to visit Harvard’s cutting-edge quantum research facilities and meet world-class scientists.
World Quantum Day 2025: Return of the QuanTour Light Source, Hands-on Experiments, and an Enjoyable Science Slam
(DPG is an IYQ sponsor.)
Quantum technology took the stage in Berlin on April 14. The highlight was the ceremonial return of the QuanTour light source to Urania, a symbolic conclusion to a year-long journey through European research institutions. The QuanTour linked laboratories and universities across Europe as a precursor to this year’s International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.
“With the QuanTour, we wanted to set an example for networking, transparency, and enthusiasm for quantum technology,” say the initiators, Doris Reiter and Tobias Heindel, who had the idea for the project two years ago. “Due to the great interest, the QuanTour light source will make one more stop in Turkey before being passed on to the Physikalisch-Technische-Bundesanstalt.”
Measuring the same quantum light source more than a dozen times in different laboratories is a unique experiment and an important step toward establishing standards for quantum technologies. At the same time, the QuanTour made quantum research visible to the public across Europe: researchers gave insights into the physics laboratories and their everyday life in science via Instagram and in a podcast.
In addition to the return of the light source, the World Quantum Day event offered a varied program with numerous interactive experiments, workshops, and a hands-on exhibition. During the workshop on quantum cryptography, students could playfully try out for themselves how a secret key is transmitted in the form of a random bit sequence using individual photons, and whether this was intercepted. Another workshop illustrated quantized conductance. With experimental skill, participants were able to observe quantum jumps in the conductance of gold wire using an oscilloscope by carefully pulling two gold wires apart.
In the hands-on exhibition, quantum phenomena such as superposition and entanglement were made accessible in a playful way, for example, with the game Quantum Tic-Tac-Toe by the Junge Tüftler:innen or the artwork Quantum Jungle, which visualized the Schrödinger equation. The analogue Paul Trap by Q-Bus demanded skill in handling an ion trap experiment made of wood. The program was complemented by the touring exhibition Rethinking Physics, which highlighted the role of women in science. The booths of Leap, AQLS, Berlin Partner, BTU, and The Science Talk provided information about the multifaceted quantum landscape in Berlin.
The highlight of the evening was a Quantum Science Slam: five young researchers presented their scientific work in a creative and easy-to-understand way, from molecular films and stardust quantum computers to motion-dependent quantum emotions. Science journalist and physicist Sabrina Patsch, who humorously explained quantum entanglement using the fictional animals Quaninchen and Queerschweinchen, won the slam.
Cover picture © DPG / Mauro Franceschetti
Physics for Society: A New Colloquium Series by UNESCO and IUPAP
UNESCO and IUPAP are launching a new online colloquium series to explore how physics can drive positive change for society. This year’s theme: Quantum Science and Technology, aligned with the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ 2025).
We are honored to open the series with Prof. Anne L’Huillier, 2023 Nobel Laureate in Physics, whose groundbreaking work in attosecond science reshaped our understanding of electron dynamics.
She will speak on:
– Attosecond light pulses in quantum science
– Her journey as a woman scientist in a frontier field
This interactive event will spark dialogue across disciplines and regions — from fundamental science to real-world impact.
Inspiring the Next Generation: Teaching Optics and Photonics to Young Minds in the Age of New Technologies
The interactive session is designed as an exchange between colleagues and physics educators to explore and discuss new possibilities, approaches, and tools in the teaching of physics, with a particular focus on optics and photonics.
Under the motto: “Quantum Physics Unleashed – Navigate the fascinating Double-Slit Experiment. Step into a digital universe where quantum weirdness becomes an interactive journey, transforming abstract physics into a breathtaking visual experience,” the double-slit experiment will be presented in a virtual reality (VR) environment. For this purpose, the experiment has been visualized using Unity and implemented on a Pico 4 headset. Participants will have the opportunity to experience the experiment in an immersive manner.
The use of simulations is demonstrated through the example of determining the specific charge (e/m). For this purpose, we have developed an app that realistically simulates the experiment. Using the app, it is possible to determine the specific charge of the electron for various parameters.
Quantum PR: Build Your Brand, Build Your Business
In this IYQ year, a blizzard of announcements from quantum tech companies, both tech giants and startups, already has generated unprecedented interest from mainstream media, including top-tier business publications. Competition for media attention has grown, too, making it more important than ever to know how to work successfully to generate legitimate (read: non-hype), impactful media attention.
In any nascent industry, winners are often those committed to communicating their company’s story from its earliest days to its grandest achievements, building a narrative and brand over time that wins the hearts and minds of customers, partners, and investors.
HKA Marketing Communications, the official PR agency for IYQ, is committed to educating quantum tech companies on best practices in public relations most relevant to quantum tech.
The first webinar in our IYQ webinar series will be with Mike Kilroy, HKA EVP and a 30-year veteran of tech PR including the last 6 years at HKA working directly with global quantum tech companies.
Join Mike in a free one-hour Zoom webinar designed to help you understand the rules of media engagement and apply best practices that will contribute to your company’s success now and in the years to come.
The webinar is at 8:00 am PT/ 11:00 am ET
Birds of Science
Birds of Science is a collaborative art and science project in which participants craft origami birds from the pages of their scientific writings or their notebooks. These origami birds come together as they are created to form a breathtaking large-scale installation, symbolizing the knowledge, science, and the collective journey of ideas taking flight.
Birds of Science is created and directed by NCCR SPIN.
NCCR SPIN
Hidden Variables is a 3D art and science installation co-produced with young researchers at the NCCR SPIN in Switzerland. It was realized using discarded scientific data from theory or experimental equipment and measurements to highlight the important role of failure in the scientific journey.
Hidden Variables
What lies behind a single scientific breakthrough? A journey of trials and errors, ups and downs, successes and failures, and above all, an investment of time. At the intersection between art and science, a team of six dedicated quantum computing scientists comes to show you the hidden beauty within lost data and failed measurements – essential components in the pursuit of even the most subtle scientific insights.
