Scientists at Stanford and SLAC have created a silicon chip that can accelerate electrons using an infrared laser to deliver, in less than a hair’s width, the sort of energy boost that takes microwaves many feet.

Professor Jelena Vučković has been awarded the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) A F Harvey Engineering Research Prize. She will develop an on-chip integrated pulsed laser, which will revolutionize photonic technology and the applications that require these lasers, such as medicine, optical communications, quantum computing and self-driving cars.

Just beyond the horizon of practicality, researchers are trying to develop a new generation of chips that would control photons as reliably as today’s chips control electrons. Jelena Vuckovic has already devoted some 20 years to this pursuit for a simple reason: Photonic chips could become the basis for light-based quantum computers that could, in theory, break codes and solve certain types of problems beyond the capabilities of any electronic computer.

QFARM is soliciting proposals for topical workshops in any area of quantum science and engineering. Interested organizers should submit a one page proposal with a tentative budget, timeline, and speakers to qfarm-excom@lists.stanford.edu

Postdocs are welcome to submit workshop proposals. Please be sure to include a letter from one or more faculty endorsing your proposal.

Integrated nanophotonics promises a generation of spiffy, miniaturized optical components that could drive new capabilities, in applications from communications to lidar to quantum technology. But getting there requires packing huge optical functionality into a very small footprint—and that has been a formidable challenge in design, fabrication and just plain time.

A device that eavesdrops on the quantum whispers of atoms could form the basis of a new type of quantum computer.

Physicists were stunned when two twisted sheets of graphene showed signs of superconductivity. Now Stanford scientists have shown that the wonder material also generates a type of magnetism once only dreamed of theoretically.

The newly launched Quantum Fundamentals, ARchitecture and Machines initiative will build upon existing strengths in theoretical and experimental quantum science and engineering at Stanford and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.