The Quantum Science and Nanomaterials (QMat) project responds to a global emerging need for cutting-edge research and education across the domain of quantum science and nanotechnology. The overall ambition of this ITI is to shape a unique research and training landscape faithful to the “from-synthesis-to-operation” philosophy that drives the scientific pool of the University and that has been the hallmark of its success so far, and to make the crucial transition from fundamental quantum concepts and properties to nanomaterials innovation with real world applications.
By bringing together scientists of very diverse horizons and Institutes, the QMat ambition is to advance knowledge in quantum science and matter on a broad range of domains and applications that are highly interdisciplinary and currently beyond the mainstream. For this purpose, the QMat project proposes to develop the research along three intertwined axes, designed along this concept to device philosophy.
1: Exploring quantum coherence, and onset of collectivity from constituent to larger scales – where fundamental understanding is gained on key quantum sciences concepts;
2: Exploiting symmetries through controlled system dimensions to create enhanced or novel properties spanning from nuclear and high energy physics to chemistry and materials science;
3: Combining properties of systems at the smallest scale – where we move from properties to functions, aiming at producing and understanding these systems in the laboratory, and finally developing new smart nanomaterials and devices.
These research axes will involve state-of-the-art facilities and platforms that are already part of the setups at the disposal of the Strasbourg teams. They will also imply the development of a large variety of methods for investigating properties of matter at a fundamental level, down to the smallest scales in space/time, for instance novel spectroscopies, new device architectures, new theories, new synthesis approaches, etc. that this project will nurture.