We are an interdisciplinary group focused on "Quantum Nanophotonics" that involves creating and studying on-chip quantum devices and circuits that exploit the first quantum particle-- the photon-- for information sensing , transfer, and processing utilizing the rules of quantum mechanics. It is a foundational subset of the general field of "Quantum Information".
        "Quantum Information" is the signature emerging science and technology of the 21st century to supplement the communication, computing, and sensing / imaging technologies of the 20th century built upon the laws of classical physics. Electrons and photons, employed in large numbers, are the basic "work-horses" of these classical technologies. Employing as few electrons and photons as possible to achieve the same (and new) functions reliably is critical to reducing power consumption per bit of processed information in the exploding world of "Big Data". Creating systems that utilize as few as "single" particles to do the work requires following the laws of quantum mechanics for designing the systems and their fabrication requires building blocks at the nanoscale (typically from 10nm to 200nm).
        Building such on-chip systems demands parallel and well-coordinated efforts in the growth of appropriate combinations of materials with atomic-level control, their structural and chemical characterization, fabricating individual as well as interconnected devices (i.e. circuits) and studying their appropriate optical and electronic properties. Such an effort demands researchers from backgrounds and interests in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, and Applied Math.

        We are constantly on the look-out for "a few good students". If you have a strong undergraduate degree in science or engineering, if you are self-driven, curious, communicative, committed to PhD, and your passion to learn is greater than the fear of walking unknown territory, then contact Professor Madhukar: Email, and Professor Zhang: Email. We are the place for you!