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 2019–2023 (five years), our researchers gained more than $14M in external research funding, including significant corporate funding. Through CQD, Griffith was rated as one of the top 5 Quantum Technology Research Institutions in Australia by The Australian newspaper (Research Magazine, 2023).
Our research achievements are well known in Australia and internationally, including:
World-first experimental work such as measuring the time it takes an electron to tunnel out of an atom (Nature, 2019).
Ground-breaking theory work such as proving that either there is action at a distance, or observations are not absolutely real (Nature Physics, 2020), which won the 2023 International Ehrenfest Award for best paper in quantum foundations.
In the last 10 years (2015-2024), 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.