The goal of Humar’s SoftQuanta project – Soft and biological quantum light sources is to develop entirely new sources of quantum light in soft and biological materials based on liquid crystals. Just as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) control brightness and, consequently, the color of individual pixels, it will now, for the first time, be possible to manipulate the quantum properties of light. In addition to having an efficiency of entangled photon generation in liquid crystals comparable to the best existing sources, their main advantage lies in the ability to modify the photon pair’s quantum state. This can be achieved by applying an electric field or by arranging liquid crystal molecules into a specific configuration. In other words, a quantum LCD will be developed. Initial results on this topic have already been published in the prestigious journal Nature. The project will also explore single-photon light sources in biological materials for new applications, such as cell labeling and the creation of a fully biological single-photon source. The new quantum light sources developed in SoftQuanta will have a significant impact on quantum sensing, imaging, communications, and even quantum computing. Therefore, the project has the potential to radically reshape the field of quantum optics.
SoftQuanta
Soft and biological quantum light sources
Project type: ERC Consolidator Grant
Call ID: ERC-2024-CoG
Grant agreement ID: GA101170123
Period: 01/11/2025 - 31/10/2030
Participating organization: Nanocenter
Project value: 2,322,923.00 EUR
Fields of science: Natural Sciences / Mathematics / Pure Mathematics / Geometry / Physical Sciences / Theoretical Physics / Particle Physics / Photons / Optics / Laser Physics / Engineering and Technology / Industrial Biotechnology / Biomaterials
Keywords: liquid crystals / ferroelectric nematics / color centers / entangled photons / photon pairs / single photon sources / quantum optics / microscopy / bioimaging / cellular barcoding
Abstract
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Doc. Dr. Matjaž Humar
Doc. Dr. Matjaž Humar is the head of the Lab for biophotonics, soft photonics and quantum optics at the Solid State Physics Department. Over his career, he has been awarded three ERC projects. He was the first researcher in Slovenia to receive an ERC Starting Grant and has now also secured an ERC Consolidator Grant. Earlier this year, he also obtained a smaller ERC Proof of Concept Grant to validate research concepts. Humar was the first to demonstrate a laser inside a living cell. Building on this achievement, his research group, under a previous ERC project, developed microlasers made from soft and biological materials, integrating them into cells and tissues to study biophysical and biochemical processes within cells. In general, Humar’s laboratory focuses on developing various optical devices from soft materials. They were also the first to demonstrate that a soap bubble can be used to create a laser. Humar continues to push the boundaries of research by combining previously incompatible fields such as quantum optics, lasers, biological, and soft matter.