RouTe

Summary of the project (publishable abstract, max. 1/2 page): The goal of RouTe is to lay the foundations for a quantum technology that can operate at room temperature, thus taking a first major leap towards exploiting fundamental quantum phenomena in light-matter interaction for real-world applications. The enabling physical systems are organic materials that display quantum properties even at room temperature when coupled resonantly to cavity modes or plasmonic structures. Due to the unique multi-level nature of organic materials, light-matter coupling can be explored over a wide range of energies from the infra-red to the ultra-violet, which opens up new opportunities for quantum science and technology. Our objectives include the realization of: i) Room temperature quantum simulator setups for many-body lattice models and topological states of matter with polaritons; ii) Strongly coupled light-matter interfaces with applications to quantum communication and robust quantum information storage at room temperature; and iii) Enhanced material properties and chemical reactivity by making use of strong coupling of organic materials to photonic or phononic modes prepared in their vacuum state. RouTe is a highly interdisciplinary project that crosses scientific boundaries by bringing together partners with theoretical and experimental expertise in quantum optics, condensed matter physics, chemistry, and material science. The synergetic overlap between the partners is needed to tackle the ambitious and challenging goals of RouTe. Relevance to the topic addressed in the call This project opens new research directions in the following areas of interest for the QuantERA call: i) Quantum communication (1) and Quantum information sciences (4): Conception and demonstration of novel topological photonic sources, generation of nonclassical states of matter and the understanding, design and control of decoherence in cavities, waveguides and plasmonic structures. ii) Quantum simulation (2): Realization and exploitation of new platforms for quantum simulations of many-body problems and topological states of matter using polaritons at room temperature. iii) Novel ideas and applications in quantum science and technologies (6): Enhanced chemical reactivity and transport properties in organic materials by light-matter hybridization.