NCCR Guide 2013 - Schweizerischer Nationalfonds (SNF)

Topics
Since Einstein’s famous discoveries
in the early 1900s,
we know that light exhibits a
double nature – it can be considered
as both a wave and as
a stream of photons. This is
the so-called quantum behavior.
Particles such as electrons
bear the same duality. Therefore,
at an infinitesimal scale,
the interaction of light with
matter can be manipulated,
revealing novel phenomena
that might prove useful. Scientists
at the NCCR Quantum
Photonics conduct funda-
Achievements of the previous years
Research results
The NCCR quantum photonics
(NCCR QP) has, over its 11
years of existence, been instrumental
in strenghening the
quality of research in photonics
in Switzerland. The NCCR QP is
now in its last year of operation,
with scientific activities finishing
at the end of June 2013. The
quality of the research over the
course of the NCCR has been
demonstrated through several
key performance indicators.
The NCCR QP has seen 5 new
full professors, 4 new assistant
professors and 2 promotions of
junior group leaders. Six junior
group leaders have been supported
within the NCCR QP
over the years. The 180 doctoral
students and 120 post-doctoral
fellows published more than
1000 publications in peer-reviewed
journals along with the
98 senior researchers and the
44 group/project leaders. In
the last phase of the NCCR QP
(2009-2013) 449 scientific presentations
were made at conferences
and fairs and 4 books were
written. Five European Council
Grants have been awarded
to NCCR QP project leaders.
To celebrate such outstanding
results NCCR QP management
organised a conference in
June 2012 “Photonics without
frontiers»”(http://nccr-qp.epfl.
ch/page-79814-en.html), where
more than 300 people attended,
attracted by the presentations
of 3 Nobel Prize Winners and
other renowned researchers.
The highlights of the NCCR QP
research can be viewed at
nccr-qp@epfl.ch.
mental research and develop
novel technologies that carry
the potential for numerous
future applications: quantum
Cryptography guaranteeing
transaction security, quantum
Cascade Lasers will take
part in NASA‘s Mars Exploration
Program to study the
red planet habitability and
assess whether Mars or is an
environment able to support
microbial life. For the third
phase 2009-2013 the NCCR
QP the International Advisory
board opted for 10 Projects
covering a wide range of
fields such as quantum optics,
quantum devices and advanced
light sources. Besides
oriented research and technology
transfer. The NCCR
Quantum Photonics also
supports workshops and scientific
camps for 11-13 year
old girls demonstrating that
mathematics and physics are
rewarding. These activities
promote and strengthen longterm
excellence in the field of
photonics in Switzerland.
Technology transfer
The industrial Program of the
NCCR QP has had resounding
success bridging the gap between
fundamental research
and the industry. NCCR QP
scientists have created 5 startups
which are still in operation
today: Alpes laser, ID Quantique,
Beamexpress, Attolight,
and Novagan. During the second
phase of the NCCR QP the
7P program was created with
the goal to increase the chances
of NCCR QP postdoctoral fellows
to gain employment in
the Swiss photonic industry
by funding their salaries for
one year in the industry. The
NCCR QP had, over the 3 project
phases, 21 joint projects
and 20 projects involving technology
transfer with various
companies.
Education & training /
Advancement of women
The training of PhD students
has been of importance in the
NCCR QP and was achieved
through different means, one
of which was the photonics
doctoral program at the EPFL.
Other instruments for networking
such as the tandem partner
program where students were
paired-up and exchanged their
scientific experience over two
weeks in each other’s laboratory
have been very well received
and successful.
Collaboration with the EPFL’s
equal opportunity office and the
NCCR MICS resulted in many
initiatives to promote women in
science and encourage young
people towards science careers.
Yearly «girls only» programs
are run at the EPFL with
the goal of introducing girls to
scientific disciplines, increase
their confidence and faith in
their own abilities and breaking
gender stereotypes. The
evaluation of these programs is
very positive and many young
people are repeat participants.
The activities are fully booked
a year before they take place
and have received praise from
the press, the parents and the
children alike. The Polytèque
has been created in order for
young people to have access
to scientific media. The science
bus has been touring the
French-speaking Switzerland
for months in Vaud, Neuchâtel,
Valais and Jura with 2500
children partaking in scientific
activities.
Women advancement has been
fostered through mentoring
and career planning programs,
meetings with role models,
some of which Nobel Prize
Winners, practical information
such as child care strategies,
funding, associations and mentorships.
Courses to improve
specific desirable skills and
opportunities for networking
have been organized. Within
the NCCR QP 29 % of PhD
students were females, 40 % of
postdoctoral fellows and 10 %
of group leaders.
Overall, the NCCR funding
instrument has been of tremendous
benefit to the field of
photonics in Switzerland.
Further information see
http://nccr-qp.epfl.ch
Third Party Cooperation
Programmes
• CLERMONT4
• COST P21
• COST288
• EPIXNET
• EU CA-QUROPE
• EU-ANSWER
• IST-VISTA
• NanoTera
• NITWAVE
• OFSESA
• Q-CERT
• QON
• STIMSCAT
• STREP-Sinphonia
• Teramobile
• ULTRAGAN
• University of Cologna,
Germany, SFB 956
Research Institutions
• Abteilung Festkörperphysik,
Universität Magdeburg,
Magdeburg, DE
• Advanced Technology and
Nanoscience, Trieste, IT
• Applied Physics Integrated Optics
Group, Paderborn University, DE
• Centre d’Etudes de Saclay, CEA,
Gif-sur-Yvette, FR
• Centre for Quantum Technologies,
National University of Singapore, SG
• Centre Lasers Intenses et
Applications, University of
Bordeaux, FR
• Clarendon Laboratory,
University of Oxford, GB
• Department of Applied Physics,
Stanford University, Palo Alto, US
• Department of Chemistry,
Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, Boston, US
• Department of Chemistry,
Princeton University, US
• Department of Electrical
and Electronical Engineering,
University of Bristol, GB
• Department of Electrical
Engineering, Cornell University,
Ithaca, US
• Department of Management
and Engineering, University of
Linkoping, SE
• Department of Physics and
Astronomy, Aarhus University, DK
• Department of Physics and
Astronomy, Cardiff University, GB
• Department of Physics and Astronomy,
University of Calgary, CA
• Department of Physics and
Astronomy, University of
Rochester, US
• Department of Physics,
Harvard University, Cambridge, GB
• Department of Physics,
Università di Trento, IT
• Department of Physics,
University of Torino, IT
• Department of Physics, Max-
Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik,
Garching, DE
• Department of Optoelectronics
and Instrumentation Group, PC
University de Rio, Rio de Janerio, BR
• Dipartimento Fisica della Materia
e Tecnologie Fisiche Avanzate,
University of Messina, IT
• Dipartimento di Fisica A. Volta,
University of Pavia, IT
Guide 2013 | 59