December 23, 2019
High-Dimensional Quantum Key Distribution
COPS Researchers found a new high density way to encode information with light as they published on 18 December in New Journal of Physics. With quantum computers on the rise, we can no longer exclude the possibility that a quantum computer will become so powerful that it can break existing cryptography. Single particles of light […]
December 17, 2019
Looking inside 3D nanostructures without leaving a trace
Discovering what is inside a three-dimensional (3D) nanostructure is no longer a matter of cutting it in slices, thus breaking it up and destroying its functionality. Scientists from the University of Twente and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) discovered a new non-destructive method to look deep inside a 3D nanostructure. This ‘traceless X-ray tomography’ […]
A physical lock and key
December 5, 2019
Cybersecurity grant from NWO for COPS-led project SMOKE
Together with colleagues from the TU/e, Pepijn Pinkse wrote the “Single-Mode Optical physical unclonable KEys ” (SMOKE) project proposal, in which the possibility of using Physical Unclonable Keys (PUKs), such as a stroke of white paint, to secure sensitive communication networks. This should result in a highly secure and practical authentication system, because – as […]
December 2, 2019
Nichtlineare Photonik visit COPS for lab tour
On the 21st of November, the Nichtlineare Photonik group from the WWU Münster visited the COPS group. During their visit, the COPS optics labs were toured and many great discussions were held. COPS looks forward to continued collaboration with the Nichtlineare Photonik group.
November 26, 2019
COPS Bill Barnes at Royal Society workshop
We are proud to announce that COPS colleague Bill Barnes is participating at the UK Royal Society in the workshop on “Quantum light for investigating complex molecules and materials”. He will notably chair the 4th workshop on the 26th of November. Event information and abstracts can be found here.
November 18, 2019
New COPS member Alfredo Rates
Alfredo Rates has started as a new Ph.D. student at COPS. During his masters, Alfredo has worked on charge transport through single molecules, in particular, porphyrin molecules, identifying the conductance pathways inside the molecular structure. He will now work in free-form scattering optics under the supervision of Prof.dr. W.L. Vos.
November 12, 2019
Studium Generale talk by Pepijn Pinkse on Life and work of Werner Heisenberg
Werner Heisenberg is a key figure in 20th century physics. He was one of the pioneers of quantum mechanics and introduced the famous uncertainty principle, which states that it is impossible to know both speed and position of a quantum particle exactly at the same time. How did he come to this amazing discovery? And […]
October 19, 2019
Cryptography without secret keys
Most security methods, for instance for access to buildings or for digital signatures, use cryptographic keys that must at all costs be kept secret. That also is the weak link: who will guarantee that the key doesn’t get stolen or hacked? Using a physical unclonable key (PUK) – this can be a stroke of white […]
October 9, 2019
How to quickly design a white LED?
Lighting is a crucial technology that is used in our daily lives. The advent of the white light emitting diode (LED) that consists of a blue LED with a phosphor layer, greatly reduces the energy consumption for lighting. Despite the fast-growing market, white LEDs are still being designed with slow, numerical, trial-and-error methods. A team […]
September 16, 2019
Processor paper chosen as Editor’s pick
  Our paper “8×8 reconfigurable quantum photonic processor based on silicon nitride waveguides” by Taballione et al. has been published in the OSA journal Optics Express. We are proud that it was chosen as “Editor’s pick”. The paper demonstrates a large programmable network of waveguides. Together with our colleagues from UT-LPNO, Oxford university and Lionix, […]
July 16, 2019
Pepijn Pinkse (COPS) and Sonia Garcia Blanco (OS) on photonics in UT alumni magazine
Pepijn Pinkse (COPS) and ANP colleague Sonia Garcia Blanco (OS) featured the cover of the UT alumni magazine. The magazine published an article on photonics, for which they were interviewed.
July 4, 2019
New COPS member S. Raghunathan
Recently, Shravan Raghunathan has started as a new PhD student at COPS. Previously Shravan worked at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, India, on generating light beams carrying Orbital Angular momentum implemented by computer generated holography as well as on static light-scattering measurements to obtain particle size distributions using low cost techniques. He will now work […]