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Stefan Putz and Philipp Koller are employed at the Quantum Technology Unit at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) in Vienna. With their team, they work with what are called “colour centres” in materials like diamond and silicon carbide. “These tiny defects in the crystal structure of materials behave similarly to single trapped molecules, making them excellent candidates for storing quantum information,” Philipp explains. They are also highly sensitive to small electric and magnetic fields. This makes them useful for everything from analysing chemical compounds (for example in areas such as medicine and food safety) to navigating without GPS (the so-called inertial navigation) using extremely small changes in magnetic or electric fields.
The Austrian scientists are also developing devices called gravimeters, which use magnetically levitating mirrors to detect even the tiniest movements. “The gravimeters are tiny objects, smaller than a millimetre, that can be stabilized with extreme precision and used to detect incredibly small accelerations. They have significant potential in various applications, such as gaining deeper insights into the fundamental nature of gravity or detecting subtle ground movements that occur before major earthquakes,” says Philipp.
Stefan and Philipp use an array of tools at CEITEC Nano, including:
CEITEC Nano gives Stefan and Philipp access not only to advanced nanofabrication cleanrooms but also to a collaborative environment filled with expert researchers, all under one roof. As they both admit, they are lacking a similar facility with this technological standard, user-friendly atmosphere and accessibility in Vienna. “It’s a very unique place and you have everything together, it’s close, you can go and just experiment (...) There’s staff people who help you out when you need and that helps a lot,” concludes Stefan, highlighting the support users get at CEITEC Nano whenever needed.
The way CEITEC Nano links with international researchers such as Stefan and Philipp shows the importance that this state-of-the-art infrastructure operating on the basis of open access brings to the region. Indeed, CEITEC Nano is not just a local resource, but part of global scientific research and progress. It is a place where international researchers meet, share ideas, and find useful collaborations. The CEITEC Nano Research Infrastructure thus contributes to placing the #brnoregion in the global context of science.
You can find the full article on the CEITEC BUT website.