Associate Professor Harald Schwefel has received a Google Academic Research Award.
A University of Otago quantum physicist is among the first group of international researchers globally to receive a new grant from Google.
Associate Professor Harald Schwefel, of the Department of Physics and Te Whai Ao – Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies, has received a Google Academic Research Award worth US$50,000 (NZ$81,835) to further his work in quantum technologies.
Associate Professor Schwefel is the only New Zealand-based researcher to receive an award.
The inaugural programme supports groundbreaking research in computing and technology, addressing global challenges such as climate change, education, quantum computing, the societal impact of AI, digital safety and infrastructure optimisation.
“It feels great to receive this funding from Google, as it acknowledges Otago’s leadership in this domain of quantum technologies,” he says.
“It also shows that New Zealand hosts excellent science that can perform well on the international stage.”
Associate Professor Schwefel and his team are working to connect two quantum computers using a room temperature link, which would be a world-first.
There is global competition to develop quantum computers at scale and network them, like the internet. Quantum computers can solve certain problems at an unprecedented speed and will transform how we use technology.
The award funding will be used to enhance the fabrication facilities at Otago and help build a relationship with Google, a potential end-user of quantum technology.
Currently, the quantum computers developed by Google and International Business Machines (IBM) cannot be linked with each other as they operate with quantum information in the form of microwave photons, he says.
“Such microwave photons have so low energy that they cannot survive at room temperature and must live in cool environments. By converting the microwave photons into optical photons that can travel in optical fibres, just like the classic internet does, quantum computers could be connected.
“For perfect operation, every microwave photon needs to be converted into an optical photon – this has not yet been achieved anywhere, even though people have tried for a decade and the efficiencies have slowly increased.
“We believe that we now have the technology at hand to build a device that achieves 80 per cent conversion efficiency, which is suitable for a quantum link.”
Associate Professor Schwefel says it is hard to secure substantial research funding for equipment in New Zealand, so the award from Google is highly appreciated.
“There has been a lot of funding to enhance international collaboration, which is great but most of us have already plenty of international collaborations. However, if we were funded appropriately nationally, the science could flourish even more,” he says.
Otago has invested in five quantum technology groups and hosts Te Whai Ao – Dodd-Walls Centre.