ERC Advanced Grant für Prof. Dr. Maria Chekhova

Prof. Dr. Maria Chekhova has been awarded one of the coveted Advanced Grants from the European Research Council (ERC). This is associated with funding of around 2.5 million euros for five years.

New light sources for quantum light

Quantum light plays a central role in modern technologies, for example enabling tap-proof communication or particularly sensitive measurements such as the detection of gravitational waves. Quantum light is usually generated by so-called non-linear optical effects, for example by splitting a light particle into two less energetic light particles. This happens in crystals, glass fibers or special light guides.

Prof. Dr. Maria Chekhova, Professor of Optics at FAU and the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, has succeeded in generating quantum light particles in ultra-thin materials. Because these materials are only a few hundred nanometers thick, different physical rules apply to them – for example, different types of quantum light can be generated simultaneously with a single one of these light sources.

In the new project, Maria Chekhova now wants to exploit the full potential of these flat, multifunctional sources and generate not only pairs of light particles in experiments, but also much more complex quantum light states that have never been observed before. It should also be possible to convert entangled photons into other quantum forms or light frequencies.

The project should thus expand the possibilities of existing quantum optics and pave the way for a new generation of compact, powerful and versatile quantum light sources.

Grants from the European Research Council

With its Advanced Grants, the European Research Council honors outstanding achievements of already experienced excellent scientists in research. The funding is aimed at established, active researchers with an outstanding scientific track record over the past ten years. In the 2024 call for proposals, 281 Advanced Grants were awarded across Europe with a total amount of 721 million euros.

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