The aim of this proposal is to develop equipment that can take advantage of the discovery of MASER action at room temperature. The MASER (Microwave Amplified Stimulated Emission of Radiation) was in fact discovered before the LASER (Light Amplified Stimulated Emission of Radiation) but required cryogenic cooling and magnetic fields. The associated infrastructure needed to operate the MASER meant that it was used in very few specialist applications such as deep space exploration. Maser research then produced lasers and around the same time, semiconductor amplifiers were developed, which brought further development to a halt. However, they were developed into very useful devices for timekeeping, radio astronomy and deep space communication (Ruby masers) because of their unparalleled low electronic noise as well as a very narrow linewidth of oscillation. The discovery of masing at room temperature is a step change that allows us to consider new instrumentation that would transform low-noise amplifiers, sensors, and clocks. If we can amplify tiny signals and increase signal to noise then we can use them as very low noise amplifiers - these are found in all manner of electronic equipment. The gamechanger is the noise floor of our maser when measured at room temperature. Our ambition therefore is to extend the astounding sensitivity and low noise of existing masers to room-temperature applications, there are two relevant comparators - existing non-ambient technologies and existing room-temperature technologies. For applications as low-noise amplifiers, a key figure of merit is the so-called "noise temperature" which should be as low as possible and for conventional electronic devices is approximately their thermodynamic temperature. The pentacene maser has an estimated noise temperature of 140 milliKelvin and the diamond maser has an estimated noise temperature of less than 2 Kelvin with theory suggesting the noise temperature could be lowered to around 300 milliKelvin, all at room temperature. Our noise floor is 1-2 orders of magnitude lower than the best semiconductor (high electron mobility transistors) available today. So for example we would get better images in a MRI machine or clearer communications. Already we can foresee additional applications for the re-engineered maser that include more sensitive medical scanners; chemical sensors for remotely detecting explosives; advanced quantum computer components; and better radio astronomy devices for potentially detecting life on other planets. Our next step is to provide a miniaturised benchtop demonstrator instrument capable of addressing these applications. This is important both to allow a transition from just studying room-temperature masers into actually using room-temperature masers, and as a step towards widespread use of these devices in other research labs and in industry. It is our experience and indeed that of colleagues engaging with industrial partners, that it is essential that we provide a proof of principle instrument.

The primary objective of the QC2 CDT is to train the upcoming generation of pioneering researchers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who will contribute to positioning the UK as a global leader in the quantum-enabled economy by 2033. The UK government and industry have demonstrated their commitment by investing £1 billion in the National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP) since 2014. In its March 2023 National Quantum Strategy document, the UK government reaffirmed its dedication to quantum technologies, pledging £2.5 billion in funding over the next decade. This commitment includes the establishment of the UKRI National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC). The fields of quantum computation and quantum communications are at a pivotal juncture, as the next decade will determine whether the long-anticipated technological advancements can be realized in practical, commercially-viable applications. With a wide-ranging spectrum of research group activities at UCL, the QC2 CDT is uniquely situated to offer comprehensive training across all levels of the quantum computation and quantum communications system stacks. This encompasses advanced algorithms and quantum error-correcting codes, the full range of qubit hardware platforms, quantum communications, quantum network architectures, and quantum simulation. The QC2 CDT has been co-developed through a partnership between UCL and a network of UK and international partners. This network encompasses major global technology giants such as IBM, Amazon Web Services and Toshiba, as well as leading suppliers of quantum engineering systems like Keysight, Bluefors, Oxford Instruments and Zurich Instruments. We also have end-users of quantum technologies, including BT, Thales, NPL, and NQCC, in addition to a diverse group of UK and international SMEs operating in both quantum hardware (IQM, NuQuantum, Quantum Motion, SeeQC, Pasqal, Oxford Ionics, Universal Quantum, Oxford Quantum Circuits and Quandela) and quantum software (Quantinuum, Phase Craft and River Lane). Our partners will deliver key components of the training programme. Notably, BT will deliver training in quantum comms theory and experiments, IBM will teach quantum programming, and Quantum Motion will lead a training experiment on semiconductor qubits. Furthermore, 17 of our partners will co-sponsor and co-supervise PhD projects in collaboration with UCL academics, ensuring a strong alignment between the research outcomes of the CDT and the critical research objectives of the UK quantum economy. In total the cash and in-kind contributions from our partners exceed £9.1 million, including £2.944 million cash contribution to support 46 co-sponsored PhD studentships. QC2 will provide an extensive cohort-based training programme. Our students will specialize in advanced research topics while maintaining awareness of the overarching system requirements for these technologies. Central to this programme is its commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, which is evident in the composition of the leadership and supervisory team. This team draws expertise from various UCL departments, including Chemistry, Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Physics, as well as the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN). QC2 will deliver transferable skills training to its students, including written and oral presentation skills, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset, and imparting techniques to maximize the impact of research outcomes. Additionally, the programme is committed to taking into consideration the broader societal implications of the research. This is achieved by promoting best practices in responsible innovation, diversity and inclusion, and environmental impact.