Nanophysics and Quantum Systems

Specific mission

The research activities of the Nanophysics and Quantum Systems (NQS) Section, led by Prof. Fausto Rossi at the Department of Applied Science and Technology, cover a broad spectrum of topics, including the theory and simulation of non-equilibrium phenomena in nanostrucutred materials, the modeling of many-body quantum processes and correlation effects in low-dimensional systems, the investigation of quantum phase transitions and topological materials, as well as the mathematical fundation of quantum information/computation and quantum optics. The investigations at NQS find application in nanoelectronics, optoelectronic devices and the physics of cold atoms. In particular, the studies carried out at NQS by F. Rossi and R.C. Iotti have led to the design and fabrication of the first terahertz quantum cascade laser, and to the first proposal of all-optical quantum computer based on semiconductor macroatoms/molecules.

Main research topics

Main partnerships

  • University of Würzburg (Germany),
  • CEA Grenoble (France),
  • CNR-NEST and Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa (Italy),
  • INRIM (Italy)
  • CNR and Physics Department of the University of Bologna (Italy)
  • Centro Atomico de Bariloche & Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina)
  • University of Southern California (USA)
  • RF-microwave and computational electronics (DET, Politecnico di Torino, Italy)
  • CNR Bologna
  • Sissa and CNR Democritos, Trieste (Italy)
  • Boston University
  • MIT (USA)

Projects and publications