iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Ifan Hughes @ifanghughes.bsky.social · 1h

Final prep completed! Ready to teach a new lecture course this term - The Quantum Information and Computing component of the PHYS4121 Atoms Lasers and Qubits module at @durhamphysics.bsky.social 🧪 #physics ⚛️ #iTeachPhysics 🎢

A white board with a colour-coded list of Weekly Problems, Example Classes and Lectures. The topic to be covered in each of the 18 lectures is noted.

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SPIE @spie.org · 14/09/2026

Kevin Weatherill of Durham University is presenting his team’s research on multi-spectral terahertz imaging using an atomic sensor, demonstrating two-colour THz imaging at 0.55 and 1.1 THz with applications in food inspection, and material discrimination. #SPIESensors

A man speaking on stage with slides displaying research results in the background.

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Ifan Hughes @ifanghughes.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Interesting @durhamqlm.bsky.social seminar by Ivan Deutsch on quantum computing. Second talk today about qudits!

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Help! Parton Community Council has 60 days to raise £70k to buy Parton Kirk (resting place of James Clerk Maxwell). They plan to turn it into a visitor centre celebrating our great hero! The other buyers could turn it into long-term storage 😬 Even £5 would help 🙏🧪⚛️ www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

justgiving.com

Help raise £70000 to Save Parton Kirk – JustGiving Crowdfunding

Iʼm raising money to Save Parton Kirk. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Despite the title, there is in fact a mention of the Durham physics @durhamphysics.bsky.social QUASAR underground quantum experiment in this article. See here for more details: www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/...

durham.ac.uk

Pioneering quantum research moves deep underground - Durham University

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Ifan Hughes @ifanghughes.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Hot off the press! Quantified absorption of laser light by silver atoms in a hollow-cathode lamp arxiv.org/abs/2608.27700 First foray into silver spectroscopy, with two undergraduate final year project students as authors. Atoms, lasers, and lamps! 🧪 #physics ⚛️ #optics 💡

Four different experimental spectra obtained for a range of lamp currents. Each spectrum is fit with a theoretical model, showing excellent agreement. There is also a normalised residuals plot to quantify the fit.

A figure where part (a) shows the fluorescence spectrum emitted from the hollow cathode lamp. Part (b) is a schematic of the apparatus and laser system.

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Royal Astronomical Society @royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

The Royal Astronomical Society is shocked and dismayed to hear that the UK's iconic Jodrell Bank Observatory is at risk of closure amid a slew of catastrophic budget cuts. Read our full statement here: ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

I'm absolutely devastated for colleagues at Jodrell Bank who found out this morning that funding for the UK's e-MERLIN radio telescope array will be terminated. This is a short-sighted move, to save a tiny fraction of the overall UK science budget. #SaveJodrellBank 🔭🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Jodrell Bank's Lovell telescope faces axe in science cuts, BBC understands

Astronomers warn it would tear the heart out of UK science, and leave a generation untrained.

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Prof Sheena Cruickshank @sheencr.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Absolutely devastated to hear that the SFTC cuts mean that funding for astronomical research at Jodrell Bank has been stopped. The changes to UKRI funding and especially SFTC are really harming UK science

theguardian.com

Jodrell Bank Observatory facing closure after major funder cuts support

Scientists say decision is blow to UK astronomy as deep space observatory is home to world-leading facilities

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Chris Lintott @chrislintott.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Short-sighted, stupid cuts to the UKRI budget include shutting down Jodrell Bank, the icon of British astronomy. (Many other cuts too, including 20% to our brand new @vrubinobs.bsky.social). Interesting politically to shut down a major facility in...um..Manchester 🔭 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Jodrell Bank's Lovell telescope faces axe in science cuts, BBC understands

Astronomers warn it would tear the heart out of UK science, and leave a generation untrained.

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Interesting to note that some members of the section have been publishing papers with L4 undergraduates since before many of the current final-year undergraduate were born!

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Ifan Hughes @ifanghughes.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Some context for the Florence Nightingale Prize for Graphical Excellence.

A poster explaining the context of the Florence Nightingale Prize. There is an image of Florence Nightingale and an example of one of her influential charts.

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Ifan Hughes @ifanghughes.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

The 2026 Florence Nightingale Prize for Graphical Excellence at @durhamphysics.bsky.social In recognition of undergraduates who produce the most effective graphical presentation of data to illustrate complex physical phenomena in their laboratory reports.

Photograph of a poster with three separate images from Louis Jonss, Sean Ridge, and James Hartman.

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Ifan Hughes @ifanghughes.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Hot off the press! Transformation of vector modes by the Faraday effect in strong magnetic fields arxiv.org/pdf/2607.15088 Collaboration with @sonjafrankearnold.bsky.social Atoms, lasers, and magnets! 🧪 #physics ⚛️ #optics 💡

A series of images depicting Frequency dependent absorption and Faraday
rotation

Two images depicting Absorption and Farady rotation across a range of temperatures, showing the increasing absorption and saturation of the atomic transitions, as well as large fluctuations in
Faraday rotation.

A series of images depicting Azimuthally polarised probe beam and its decomposition in right and left handed polarisation components. b)
Explanation of the colour scheme used to represent polarisation states, parametrised by the eccentricity angle χ and the
alignment angle ψ. c) Schematic of the experimental setup

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Mike Boylan-Kolchin @mbkplus.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

I hate that this — urgent pleas to save prestigious departments from drastic cuts — is becoming a regular occurrence. A program like this takes decades to build and a few strokes of a pen to destroy.

sussexphysics.github.io

Save Sussex Physics

Save Sussex Physics - Open Letter

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

At the department Research Away Day at Ushaw College Phil and Alex presented an overview of the section's research, and our vision for the future. There has been a significant increase in the size of the section in the last 4 years, mostly as a consequence of hosting early-career fellows.

An image giving an overview of QLM research. There are four images from recent research papers.

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Ifan Hughes @ifanghughes.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Greatly enjoyed our Physics department research away day at Ushaw College. The theme was "A 10-year horizon". Two of my early career colleagues gave the talk on behalf of @durhamqlm.bsky.social .

Phil and Alex about to give their presentation.

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Royal Astronomical Society @royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Stars of physics are in Westminster right now to call on the Government to halt funding cuts to astronomy and particle physics research. Professor Brian Cox called them "inexplicable", urging the Government to instead "trust, inspire and continue to invest in the next generation of scientists".

Stars of physics outside the Houses of Parliament.

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Ifan Hughes @ifanghughes.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Os oes diddordeb gennych mewn clywed am ddatblygiadau diweddar ym myd cyfrifiadura cwantwm yna gwrandewch ar Dros Ginio. Dechrau ar ôl 9 1/2 munud. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

Dros Ginio - Cennydd Davies yn cyflwyno - BBC Sounds

Trin a thrafod Cymru a'r byd, gan godi'r pynciau a gofyn y cwestiynau sy'n bwysig i chi.

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Ifan Hughes @ifanghughes.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Prof. Stuart Adams receives Holweck Prize - www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...

durham.ac.uk

Stuart Adams receives Holweck Prize - Durham University

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Ifan Hughes @ifanghughes.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

The Rochester Lecture 2026 was delivered by Prof. Antoine Browaeys - www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...

durham.ac.uk

The Rochester Lecture 2026 was delivered by Prof. Antoine Browaeys - Durham University

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Ifan Hughes @ifanghughes.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Looking forward to host the Rochester lecture on Monday 18th May, "Assembling quantum matter one atom at a time". The lecturer is Prof. Antoine Browayes.

Poster advertising the 2026 Rochester lecture by Prof. Antoine Browayes.

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Ifan Hughes @ifanghughes.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

I am very excited to be involved with the QuASAR project (Quantum Atom-experiment for Sensing And fundamental Research). @durhamqlm.bsky.social we are building the UK’s first underground cold-atom quantum sensor at Boulby Underground Laboratory in North Yorkshire. www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/...

durham.ac.uk

Pioneering quantum research moves deep underground - Durham University

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2026 and the closing of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, we're delighted to introduce Kyle Tate — the QLM research group’s new Quantum Apprentice. 1/n #NAW2026

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Thank you Sarah Thomas for your interesting talk on light-matter interactions for quantum memories, their importance in quantum networking and recent work in improving the efficiency and storage time of memories.

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Joschka Roffe @qec.codes · 04/02/2026

Great day back in Durham visiting @durhamqlm.bsky.social to give a seminar on QEC and our recent work at Quantum Software Lab. Also fun to discuss the fault-tolerance of the Welsh towname Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch w/ @ifanghughes.bsky.social @tobifranzen.bsky.social

Opening slide of my presentation on Quantum Error Correction at Durham Uninversity. Slide features a picture of the Durham student union and Kingsgate bridge, famously designed by legendary North Eastern arcitect Ove Arup and considered to be one of the world's finest examples of brutalist architecture.

A slide from my presentation comparing surface codes to QLDPC codes. Background: surface codes are a leading approach to QEC, favoured for their local connectivity and straightforward ability to scale to arbitrary distance. However, from a coding theory perspective, they are far from optimal codes, owing to the fact that only a single logical qubit is encoded per patch. In practice, it is estimated that ~1000 qubits will be required per logical qubit in a surface code architecture, making them much less efficient than classical LDPC codes (of the type used in 5G and WiFi) where encoding ratios can be as low as 2-to-1. Quantum LDPC are modelled on classical codes, and it is has been shown (through simulation) that they code achieve encoding densities as low as 50-to-1 (some 20x improvement than surface codes). The tradeoff is that QLDPC codes are much less structured than surface codes, requiring long-range interactions between qubits. The QLDPC Tanner graph shown on the slide depicts a naive layout that I usefully refer to as the "spaghetti connectivity".

Language is redundant by design. The town of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch in Anglesey Wales is probably the best error corrected placename in the world!

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Ifan Hughes @ifanghughes.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

In this week’s Fourier Optics course we shall be looking at spatial filtering – how a pair of lenses performs a Fourier analysis and subsequently Fourier synthesis in the 4f set up. The importance of the f to f set up with a single lens is emphasised. 🧪 #physics ⚛️ #optics 💡 #iTeachPhysics 🎢

An image with an aperture in the form of the letter K in the plane z=-2f. There is a lens in the plane z=-f. We see the Fourier transform in the plane z=0. (Fourier analysis). There is a lens in the plane z=f. An inverted image of K is seen in the plane z =2f (Fourier synthesis).

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Ifan Hughes @ifanghughes.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

In this week’s Fourier Optics course we shall be looking at diffraction from 2D apertures, with arrays of identical structures. A quiz to test your understanding of the array theorem. Can you match the apertures to their Fraunhofer diffraction patterns? 🧪 #physics ⚛️ #optics 💡 #iTeachPhysics 🎢

$A four by six array of images. Images in the top row are labelled A, B, ... F. Images in the second row are labelled G, H, ... L. In the top two rows each image is of a collection of simple shapes, such as three identical circles displaced uniformly horizontally. The lower two rows are Fourier intensity diffraction patterns. The images in row three are labelled 1, 2, ... 6, and in row four 7, 8, ...12.$

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Ifan Hughes @ifanghughes.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

In this week’s Fourier Optics course we shall be looking at diffraction from 2D apertures. Fourier techniques provide an elegant way of calculating the patters for regular arrays 🧪 #physics ⚛️ #optics 💡 #iTeachPhysics 🎢

$Two images. The upper shoes to identical circles of diameter D separated horizontally by d. The lower shows the corresponding intensity diffraction pattern; an Airy disk modulated with cosine-squared fringes.$ $A two by two array of images. The top left shows three identical circles separated equally along the horizontal axis. The bottom right panel shows the corresponding intensity diffraction pattern: an Airy patter modulated with the characteristic pattern for three identical objects, "big-little-big-little" fringes. The other two panels show slices of the diffraction pattern along the horizontal and vertical (no fringes) axes.$

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Thank you Rob Harris for making the arduous journey from the Ogden Centre West to present us a seminar on his work in the CfAI on multicore fibres, two-photon polymerisation, and laser inscribed waveguides.

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Heartfelt congratulations to our newest Drs from the Quantum Light and Matter section at Durham, pictured here in front of the cathedral. We wish you all the best with your next steps, and we'll be seeing some of you around the department as new PDRAs!

5 graduates in red robes and black flat hats stand in front of Durham cathedral during evening time, with colleagues from QLM Durham.

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Tobias Franzen @tobifranzen.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Fun morning running lab tours for researchers from the Advanced Instrumentation section at @durhamphysics.bsky.social around a selection of @durhamqlm.bsky.social labs (pictured QLM colleague Alex Matthies explaining the CaF experiment)

QLM colleague Alex Matthies showing the CaF experiment the CfAI researchers.

CfAI researchers looking at optical tables in the CaF experiment at QLM.

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Ifan Hughes @ifanghughes.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

In this week’s Fourier Optics course we shall be looking at diffraction. The central idea is: decompose an arbitrary light distribution in one plane into a sum of plane waves with Fourier transform to solve the Helmholtz equation for light propagation. 🧪 #physics ⚛️ #optics 💡 #iTeachPhysics 🎢

Two mathematical definitions: those of the Fourier transform of a two dimensional function; and that of the inverse Fourier transform.

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Raising some issues for discussion at our postgraduate forum. Thanks to everyone who came along and contributed to the discussion!

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Ryan Doran of Newcastle University gives us an exciting talk on superfluid flow in a disordered potential, in one- and two-component BECs.

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Ifan Hughes @ifanghughes.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Hot off the press! Experimental and theoretical characterisation of Stokes polarimetry of the K D1 line with neon buffer gas broadening doi.org/10.1088/1361... via @ioppublishing.bsky.social Performed with colleagues at @durhamqlm.bsky.social Atoms, lasers, and magnets! 🧪 #physics ⚛️ #optics 💡

A 2 by 2 array of images. They depict the four Stokes parameters for potassium vapour as a function of frequency in the vicinity of the D1 resonance. For a natural abundance potassium vapour cell of length 25 mm containing 60 Torr of neon buffer gas. The applied magnetic field is 1160 G, with the vapour cell stem temperature, increasing from 75∘C to 135∘C , in 15∘C increments.

Theoretical ElecSus calculations of the on-resonance (i.e.
= 0 GHz) normalised Stokes parameter magnitude for (a) S0, (b) S1, (c) S2 and (d) S3 for a vapour cell stem temperature range between 75–135∘C and magnetic fields, in Faraday geometry, of 750 G, 1000 G, and 1200 G for three neon buffer gas filling pressures of 0 Torr, 60 Torr, and 100 Torr .

Experimental and theoretical Stokes parameters of the potassium D1 line as a function of linear detuning
in a 25 mm natural abundance potassium vapour cell with 60 Torr of neon buffer gas, when filled at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, subject to a magnetic field of (1160 ± 4) G. The solid lines represent the experimental data, while the dashed lines represent the ElecSus theoretical fit to the data. The Stokes parameters shown are (a) S0, (b) S1, (c) S2 and (d) S3 for five vapour cell stem temperatures
of 93 ∘C, 103 ∘C, 110 ∘C, 118 ∘C, and 129 ∘C . The vapour cell body temperature was maintained at 20 ∘C above the stem temperature. The residuals, shown below each main subplot, for
= 93 ∘C are shown as a demonstration of excellent agreement between experimental data and the ElecSus model.

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Thank you to David Wellnitz (Julich Institute) for his interesting talk on molecular interactions in deep and shallow lattices, as well as in tweezers.

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Thanks to Alex Jenkins (University of Cambridge) for his fascinating talk last week on false vacuum decay, and how we can use ultracold atomic condensates to investigate it in the lab.

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Thanks to Nicholas Spong of the NQCC for his talk on neutral atoms as a platform for quantum computing, and the NQCCs role as an advisor to the UK government in achieving QM1 - to create devices capable of delivering a trillion coherent quantum operations.

Nicholas Spong stands in front of his talk slide on PsiQuantum, presenting to an audience in a seminar room.

Phil introduces Nicholas in front of his first seminar slide.

Nicholas covers the timeline on UK National Quantum Strategy Missions

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

In this weeks QLM seminar, our very own @tobifranzen.bsky.social tells us about his fellowship plans to use micro cavities to efficiently couple single photons emitted from Yb atoms into standard telecom fibres, in the hopes of generating entanglement between Yb qubits.

Tobias stands in front of his title slide: towards quantum networking with arrays of Yb atoms.

Tobias presents a slide describing his academic journey prior to being awarded his fellowship.

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Thanks to Yansheng Zhang of @cam.ac.uk for visiting Durham QLM to give a seminar on how bosons scatter light.

Jonathan Mortlock of QLM fame (left) and Yansheng Zhang (right) stand either side of a title slide titled "How interacting Bose gases scatter light?"

Yansheng Zhang stands next to a slide displaying his labs experimental setup.

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Lucy Downes @physisister.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

@durhamqlm.bsky.social members all ready to Celebrate Science this week at @locomotionshd.bsky.social ! Come and see how we use light to identify atoms and make your own colour-changing picture using nothing but sellotape 💡🌈

A man in a purple tshirt stands in front of a out lamp and an orange lamp. They are on a table in front of a train.

An orange lamp glows within a clear plastic enclosure

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

PhD applications are open! We'd love to have you visit Durham Physics to find out more about the(currently!) 17 available projects we have for October 2026 start. Our open day is November 26th, we hope to see you there! Find project descriptions and open day sign up links below.

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Homegrown fellow @lapgallagher.bsky.social describes his fellowship plans to investigate rydberg excitons in zinc diphosphide.

Liam stands in front of his title slide "Rydberg excitons: beyond cuprous oxide" in a seminar room

Liam stands in front of an introductory slide describing his journey from undergraduate to fellow

Liams slide describing the self-Kerr effect

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Thank you Luca Donini of @cam.ac.uk for visiting us all the way up in Durham, to talk about frustrated physics in triangular and kagome optical lattices at negative absolute temperature.

PDRA Luca Donini stands in front of an introductory slide titled "Frustrated physics in triangular and kagome optical lattices at negative absolute temperature" in white seminar room, with audience.

Luca Donini presents a slide on current progress in his lab, to a seated audience.

Luca Donini presents a slide explaining the experimental sequence in his lab.

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

QLM certainly looks a lot bigger than it did a few years ago... A whirlwind introduction to all of the wonderful physics happening in QLM at our largest group meeting yet for our new members of the parish, and a refresher for some of our older members.

A seminar room filled with older and newer members of our parish seated to listen to the whirlwind talks group meeting.

A photo from behind of a full seminar room of QLM members listening to the whirlwind talks group meeting.

A speaker standing next to their slide introducing one of many physics labs in Durham QLM while the rest of the section listens.

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

A wonderful turnout from QLM for our first seminar of the academic year: Prof Michael Holynski, PI at @qusit.bsky.social, talks about quantum sensing, imaging, and timing.

Prof Michael Holynski stands in seminar room presenting a slide describing the UK national quantum technologies programme and its locations across the UK

Prof Michael Holynski stands in seminar room presenting a slide describing the UK quantum technology research hub and its partners

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Quantum Light and Matter at Durham University @durhamqlm.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Congratulations to Oliver Hughes on passing his viva. Thesis entitled "Preparation and Coherent Control of a Rydberg Qutrit in a Cold Atomic Ensemble". Supervised by @etotheipiequals.bsky.social and @kjweatherill.bsky.social Seen here with Stuart and internal examiner @ifanghughes.bsky.social

A photo of three physicists: Prof C Stuart Adams (left); Prof Ifan Hughes (right); and successful PhD candidate Oliver Hughes (centre).

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