This project aims to investigate a completely new approach to creation of coherent matter in special semiconductor microcavities. We have already produced a theoretical model which strongly suggests that a non-equilibrium Bose-Einstein condensate may be produced in the interaction of specially tailored optical pulses with a microcavity containing quantum dots. We need to extend this model to include more realistic details of the physics, and to build an experiment which is capable of detecting the special signatures in the emission spectrum which would confirm the presence of the condensate in the microcavity. The theoretical work will extend the present understanding to include relevant physics such as multiple levels and disorder, as well as carefully mapping out the limits to the expected behaviour. The experiment will make it possible to carry out measurements of the optical emission from a microcavity under conditions in which the exciting light has a special frequency structure, and enters the cavity at an arbitrary angle. Likewise the emission can be sampled with sub-picosecond time resolution and collected at an arbitrary angle, so special effects such as the expected concentration of the condensate into the k=0 state can be probed through dynamical and angular signatures. The issues probed lie at the heart of studies of coherent matter, which increasingly appears to offer rich prospects both for new physics, and ultimately, new technologies.

Unbreakable codes, teleportation of information and ultra-fast computing will soon cease to be figments of science fiction literature thanks to the ongoing development of quantum technologies. Quantum mechanics is a branch of Physics that has allowed us to understand how nature works at the atomic and sub-atomic scales. This wealth of knowledge has already enabled successful modern technologies, such as smartphones, DVD players and MRI scanners. However, even more transformative quantum-based technologies are on the horizon and could lead to enhanced sensors, powerful quantum computers and un-hackable communication systems. These are considered imminent realities, so much so that governments and major ICT corporations are copiously investing to benefit from their future commercialisation. Some quantum devices are currently at a stage of development where scientists and engineers are trying to determine in which shape or form they could be more efficiently commercialised. Whenever a new technology is being developed, a choice among possible implementations has to be made. For example, initial videocassette recording systems came simultaneously onto the market in two hardware formats (Betamax and VHS) from competitors Sony and JVC, before VHS eventually became dominant. Similarly, many materials are presently scrutinised to build the future quantum hardware. For instance, Google and IBM are investing in superconductors, while Intel and Hitachi have a prevalent focus on semiconductors, because they are already widely deployed in the microchip industry. Project QELTIC will investigate quantum effects in silicon carbide (SiC), a semiconductor made of silicon (the material used for most modern electronics) and carbon (the cornerstone element for life on Earth). SiC is an extremely promising material because it hosts quantum effects that can be exploited to build a range of useful devices ranging from sensitive environmental sensors (temperature, radiation, magnetic field etc.) to secure communication devices and enhanced computing apparatuses. Crucially, SiC quantum technology could leverage existing industrial protocols and processes, as opposed to other materials that would require significant investments and additional infrastructure. The main hurdle to advance this technology is the realisation of nanometre size electronic components that allow one to deterministically engineer and control quantum effects. This is important because it would lay the foundation for scaling up to large integrated systems that can perform complex tasks, such as detection, computation and communication. QELTIC aims to develop the underpinning technology to realise the first generation of quantum nano-devices in SiC. This research will cut through a diverse range of expertise by promoting a synthesis between quantum optics, quantum electronics and semiconductor device engineering. This will open a new direction in the field that has, until now, addressed these aspects separately. This project is one of discovery science with clear and realistic technological benefits. In order to enhance the commercial relevance of QELTIC's findings, the support of a diverse network of business partners has been secured. For example, ICT giants of the calibre of Hitachi and British Telecom will contribute towards the development of the technology and could act as early adopters. The National Physical Laboratory will support the project with provision of specialised laboratory equipment. The University of Strathclyde is ideally positioned to host this project, given advanced and expanding research activities in the quantum arena, its key role in the implementation of the National Quantum Technology Programme, and its strong ties with the nascent quantum-related industrial sector.

Quantum technology has enormous potential to revolutionize many areas of science and technology from computing and communication, to chemical engineering and material science. For instance, quantum computers could perform certain tasks much faster than ordinary computers, quantum communication systems such a quantum internet could guarantee secure communication, and quantum control of chemical reactions might lead to the discovery of new drugs or materials, to mention only a few promising applications. As for any device, whether this be a car, computer or toaster, control is essential to ensure that the device functions as intended, and optimizing the device performance by optimizing our control of the device is usually a non-trivial problem. However, control of quantum devices is particularly challenging. One reason for this is quantum coherence, a special property of quantum systems that all quantum devices exploit. Unfortunately, quantum coherence is very fragile, easily destroyed through uncontrolled interactions of the system with its environment, and not easy to control in general. One of the main objectives of this project is to address this problem and find optimal ways to control quantum devices coherently. In addition to the fragile nature of quantum coherence, realizing this aim is complicated by the fact that no manufactured device will ever be perfect, and device imperfections such as small variations in size and shape of a particular element, can be very detrimental to our ability to control the system effectively. Hence, another important aspect of the project is to look at the sensitivity of various control strategies (and ways of encoding information in quantum systems) to device imperfections. It is hoped that understanding the effect of device imperfections will allow us to design more robust strategies, which is essential if we are to build quantum devices that work in the real world.Finally, the variations of manufactured devices mean that before we can actually hope to control the operation of the device, we must first identify experimentally what the effect of certain control influences on the system is. A simple example is a toaster with a control knob to adjust how long we wish the bread to be toasted. If it is a new toaster some experimentation with the position of the knob may be required to find the right position of the knob for perfect toast. For a simple calibration problem such as this, trial and error is usually sufficient to achieve satisfactory results after a few trials. For complex devices, and especially quantum devices, more efficient and systematic ways to experimentally characterize the device and its interaction with the control apparatus are required. This is essential before we can optimize the control to achieve robust operation of the device, and is another key objective of the project.

The IGNITE Network+ aims to support sustainable, abundant, clean and equitable energy for all, by harnessing the talents of energy researchers from all backgrounds. The current lack of diversity in energy researchers stems not from a lack of interest, talent or ambition in underrepresented individuals, but from systemic inequalities in UK systems and institutions. The IGNITE Network+ will address diversity issues by: collecting data that can expose systemic inequality; designing, testing and implementing disruptive initiatives; monitoring the success of interventions and activities; identifying, disseminating and encouraging good practice. In parallel, we will work to support individuals from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds through a mixture of organisational interventions, mentorship, advice and advocacy. To achieve the changes to energy systems needed to meet net-zero carbon by 2050 requires innovation, and its translation into industry, at pace. Increased diversity in energy researchers will significantly improve our chances of success. Research has shown that diversity in the workforce, if managed effectively, increases innovation, brings greater scientific impact and improves economic growth. Despite an increasing societal awareness of the value of equality and diversity, a decade of diversity initiatives has had little effect. UK engineering, in particular, has some of the poorest diversity statistics in Europe: 8% of professional engineers are female and 6% are black and minority ethnic (BAME), this compares to UK population statistics of 51% and 14% respectively. Reliable data on other forms of diversity such as disability and sexual orientation in engineering are unavailable. Diversity initiatives generally focus on two areas: diversifying the pipeline of applicants from schools and higher education, and, once within the profession, training/mentoring the underrepresented workforce to reach leadership positions. These initiatives are based on the assumption that young people from diverse backgrounds are not attracted to degrees in engineering and physical science subjects, and that once they enter the profession, they require support in order to 'stick at it' and succeed. In other words, implying that the problem lies with the individuals themselves. Evidence shows that this is not the case. In many other countries women make up 40% of engineering graduates and research shows that underrepresented workers perform very well, without the need to additional support, if the workplace is inclusive. The IGNITE Network+ aims to increase diversity in the energy sector by critically evaluating the systemic inequalities in policy and practice that prevent researchers from underrepresented backgrounds progressing through stages in their career pathway. We will: identify and challenge inequities in the standard research metrics used to assess researcher performance, disseminate our findings widely to universities, funding bodies, professional institutions and the energy industry; survey information on, and exchange best practice in, equality, diversity and inclusion with all partners; and pilot and encourage uptake of mechanisms to support diverse individuals within energy research through a mixture of mentorship, advice and advocacy, as well as training of senior managers and leaders. The reports and recommendations made by the IGNITE Network+ are expected to provide a compelling, scientifically-robust case for change, which will therefore have to be resourced accordingly by funding councils, individual institutions and UK/devolved Governments. If we can provoke that change through this project, then all talent can flourish in UK energy research, which will have a major impact on the UK's ability to meet net zero carbon targets by 2050.

Nanotechnology is concerned with the control of material properties and processes on a very small scale - comparable with the size of single molecules or atoms. The development of new techniques to achieve this level of control has been an active area of research for many years and it has become clear that there are many technological benefits which will follow from these developments. Perhaps the most obvious example of these benefits is the progressive increase in speed and memory of computers which has had enormous impact on society and is a direct result of the ability to manufacture ever smaller electronic components. The traditional approach to making small, nanoscale, structures is known as 'top-down'. In this approach the starting point is to take a large object and use various technologies to process it into smaller objects. For example one might start with a silicon surface and form features on the surface which have very small dimensions - in fact this is how a silicon microprocessor which controls a computer is manufactured. In our application we propose a revolutionary technology which may be classified as a 'bottom-up' nanotechnology. Here the approach is almost the opposite to the 'top-down' approach in that an object is built out of components which are smaller than the resulting structure. An everyday example would be a house which is built of smaller building blocks - bricks! The building blocks in our case would be single molecules, but, unlike the everyday example, our molecular bricks may be designed or programmed to interact with each other so that they spontaneously form structures of interest. This process is known as 'self-assembly' and is achieved by incorporating in the molecule some special groups which promote interactions to control the alignment and position of neighbouring molecules. In our work we use hydrogen bonding interactions - the forces which hold together many of the molecules of life such as proteins and DNA.The 'self-assembled' structures we have made so far have been relatively simple - honeycomb networks of molecules sitting on a surface. In these networks one molecule forms the honeycomb edge and another the vertex. Most importantly the spacing of the voids of the honeycomb is very small - about 3.5 nanometres, equivalent to a few tens of atoms or alternatively about 3 large molecules such as buckyballs - and can be controlled through the choice of edge molecules. Remarkably, we have found that the holes of the honeycomb network can be filled up in a controlled manner with other materials and they therefore offer a way of achieving the central goal of nanotechnology introduced above - control of materials down to the scale of single molecules. We are now proposing to develop this discovery into a technological approach to forming a whole range of new nanoscale networks using the same approach and using these structures as templates to control the properties of new materials for biotechnology, electronics and a new form of computing / quantum information processing - which is based on the controllable mixing of quantum wave functions. The work will bring together chemists who will make the specialised molecules which are required and physicists who will study the way in which these molecules combine in the self assembly process. These scientists will be joined by others who have interests in electronic materials, biology and quantum computing - these groups will use the networks for scientific and technological demonstrator applications. By the end of the project we aim to have developed the means of perfecting networks with different dimensions, strengths, and chemical properties and hope to make this templating technology available to a much wider community of scientists and engineers in academia and industry.