Newest addition to NPL’s Quantum Light and Matter metrology platform of UK’s national excellence to foster science and technologies most critical to the country.
The UK’s first OptiCool system has been recently installed at NPL by Quantum Design UK and Ireland. This unrivalled cryogen-free magneto-optical cryostat features eight free-space optical access ports and a conical split-coil superconducting magnet capable of low-vibration magneto-optical and transport measurements at low temperatures down to 1.7 K and at high magnetic fields up to 7 T. This OptiCool system is the newest addition to NPL’s Quantum Light and Matter metrology platform of UK’s national excellence which offers a wide variety of standard and bespoke nano-optical (e.g. scattering-type scanning nearfield optical microscopy, s-SNOM) and magneto-optical facilities.
The combined capabilities allow a rich panoply of light-enabled measurement techniques across visible–IR–THz regimes at extreme scales (μm–nm, beyond the diffraction limit) and at extreme conditions (e.g cryogenic temperatures, high magnetic fields) for pure and applied research of quantum matter and devices – overarching a wide spectrum of active and emerging research fields including nano-optics and nanophotonics, polaritonics, quantum- and nano-electronics/optoelectronics, twistronics, magneto-optics and magnetophotonics, optomagnonics, optospintronics, quantum electron optics, etc.
NPL’s metrology platform underpins not only next-gen quantum technologies (such as in communication, computation & simulation, sensing & imaging, metrology & standards, and ultimately towards an interconnected UK quantum technologies eco-system) but also contributing to other technologies that are also critical to the UK, such as semiconductors, future telecoms, engineering biology, and AI.
“Combining extreme experimental conditions and flexibilities in experiment design offered by the OptiCool system provides an exciting playground pivotal for the manipulation and study of quantum light and quantum matter. We are excited about all the possibilities in low-temperature magneto-optical spectroscopy, microscopy and transport measurements enabled by this system. This amazing new facility has already enabled the team to conduct innovative research forming international collaborations with researchers from South Korea and Japan, supported by UK’s International Science Partnerships Fund.”
Dr Nathaniel J. Huáng, Senior Scientist and Principal Investigator of Quantum Light and Matter, NPL
“It is a privilege to be part of the team to explore the future potential of quantum light and matter. We aim to develop capabilities to drive scientific excellence in cutting-edge research. We also look forward to delivering business advantage and commercial success with companies.”
Dr Qianyang Chelsey Zhang, Higher Scientist, NPL
Prof Ryo Kitaura, Group Leader, National Institute for Materials Science (Japan), said:
“The advanced facilities that have been installed represent a significant opportunity to investigate the intriguing exotic excited states in 2D semiconductors and heterostructures. Through a thorough understanding of the fundamental properties revealed by this facility, there is great potential to develop innovative quantum light sources.”
Dr Myunglae Jo, Assistant Professor, Kyungpook National University (South Korea), said:
“As a researcher focusing on quantum electronic devices, I am thrilled about the installation of the OptiCool system at NPL. This state-of-the-art magneto-optical cryostat presents an exciting opportunity to explore the impact of optical stimuli on edge states in quantum Hall system – an area that has been challenging to study with traditional cryostats. The ability to perform transport measurements under optical access will enable novel investigations and expand our understanding of quantum matter. I look forward to leveraging this unique capability in collaboration with the NPL team to drive groundbreaking research in this field.”
Dr Luke Nicholls, Technical Sales Manager, Quantum Design UK and Ireland, said:
“We are thrilled to introduce our first OptiCool system in the UK at NPL. The groundbreaking research conducted by the Quantum Light and Matter team exemplifies the power, versatility, and precision of the OptiCool platform in advancing metrology and quantum technology studies. This installation marks a significant milestone in expanding the reach of our innovative cryogenic solutions. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with NPL to further enhance the instrument’s capabilities and to support demonstrations for researchers and institutions interested in leveraging OptiCool for their cutting-edge scientific endeavours”
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