Established in 2003, the Centre for Quantum Dynamics undertakes world-leading research in quantum science and technology

The Centre comprises both theory groups and experimental laboratories, and features strong collaborations between researchers. Our cutting-edge research encompasses ultrafast quantum processes, quantum computing, quantum networks, quantum metrology, quantum foundations, quantum biophysics and more.

The Centre hosts a node of the Australian Research Council’s Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology and is also home to the Australian Attosecond Science Facility, the only laboratory in Australia where atoms, molecules and materials can be probed on sub-femtosecond timescales.

About Quantum physics

The physics of quantum systems is an area of intense research activity globally. Quantum systems are composed of microscopic particles such as photons, electrons and atoms. What makes them fascinating, and technologically useful, is their unique behaviour: they defy the principles of physics that govern the more familiar behaviour of macroscopic systems. For example, a quantum particle can behave as if it is in two places at the same time, a phenomenon called “superposition.” Also, two quantum particles that have interacted in the past can be “entangled,” exhibiting correlated behaviour that is impossible in the everyday world. Moreover, these correlations persist no matter how far apart they are, a phenomenon which Einstein called “spooky.” We aim to understand such quantum behaviour better, to develop new ways of controlling it, and to apply it to future technologies. These technologies range from the quantum internet (using entanglement to teleport information encoded in quantum particles) to table-top particle therapy (using lasers to accelerate quantum particles to high velocities with applications in cancer treatment).

Grants and achievements

From 2016–2020 (five years), our researchers gained more than $11.4 million in external research funding, including significant corporate funding. CQD research resulted in Griffith University’s rating of 5 (“well above world standard”, the top rating) for quantum physics in the most recent (2018) Excellence of Research in Australia assessment by the Commonwealth Government, and contributed to the same rating for optical physics and for physics overall.

Our research achievements are well known in Australia and internationally, including:

From 2016-2020 (five years), our researchers published 24 papers in the Nature and Science suites of journals, including two in Nature itself, as well as many more in other high impact journals.

Our facilities

Our state-of-the-art facilities include:

  • Australian Attosecond Science Facility—the country’s premier ultrafast and intense-field laser facility includes two high-power few-cycle Titanium: Sapphire lasers. These lasers serve as a flash for Australia’s fastest camera—the Reaction Microscope.
  • Cold Target Recoil Ion Momentum Spectrometer, also known as ‘Reaction Microscope’ is the only such device in the Southern Hemisphere. It allows momentum-resolved detection of all charged reaction fragments. It integrates a supersonic molecular gas jet and an atomic hydrogen source. In conjunction with Australian Attosecond Science Facility lasers and a pump-probe setup, it is capable of highest temporal resolution measurements of ultrafast atomic and molecular dynamics.
  • Fabrication facilities, including waveguide fabrication, e-beam lithography and 3D laser lithography.
  • Ultrahigh resolution vacuum ultraviolet-visible-near IR spectrometer.
  • World-best single photon detectors, from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Want to know more?

Contact the Centre for Quantum Dynamics