27 September 2026 to 2 October 2026
GADEST 2026 - San Servolo Island, Venice (Italy)
Europe/Rome timezone

Engineering Defects for Quantum Technology

28 Sept 2026, 16:10
40m
Auditorium Hall

Auditorium Hall

Speaker

Prof. Jörg Wrachtrup (University of Stuttgart and Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Germany)

Description

Point defects in solids, have emerged as powerful resources for quantum technology. In this talk, I will discuss how atomic-scale defects can be engineered, controlled, and integrated to realize robust platforms for quantum sensing, communication, and computation. Using color centers in diamond—most prominently the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center—as a guiding example, I will outline the principles that enable optical initialization, coherent spin manipulation, and high-fidelity readout at room temperature.
A central theme will be the transition from studying naturally occurring defects to the deterministic creation of tailored quantum systems. Ion implantation, advanced growth techniques, and nanoscale fabrication now allow us to position single defects with nanometer precision and engineer their electromagnetic and strain environments. These capabilities enable enhanced coherence times, improved photon collection efficiencies, and scalable device architectures.
I will further discuss hybrid quantum systems, where engineered defects are coupled to photonic resonators, mechanical structures, and microwave circuits. Such interfaces open pathways toward quantum networks and distributed sensing schemes. Particular emphasis will be placed on nanoscale nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic imaging, where single defects operate as quantum sensors with unprecedented spatial resolution and sensitivity.
Finally, I will address future challenges: materials optimization, defect-to-defect variability, and the integration of defect-based qubits into complex quantum devices. By transforming defects into designed quantum functionalities, we move from observing imperfections to engineering quantum matter for practical technologies.

Author

Prof. Jörg Wrachtrup (University of Stuttgart and Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Germany)

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