QuantIC - The UK Quantum Technology Hub in Quantum Imaging

量子物理学描述了自然界是如何通过所谓的量子纠缠相互作用将孤立的微观物体的特性联系起来的，这种相互作用不仅适用于原子，也适用于光粒子，即“光子”。这些发现导致了第一次“量子革命”，带来了一系列变革性的技术，比如我们现在认为理所当然的晶体管和激光。我们现在正处于第二次“量子革命”的风口浪尖，在未来的5-10年里，将产生利用量子科学的新一代电子和光子设备。我们面临的挑战是确保在量子物理工业化的竞赛中处于领先地位，从而在这个新兴的全球市场中占有很大的份额，这一市场预计将为英国经济带来10亿英镑的价值。英国量子成像中心QuantIC成立于四年前，旨在将量子技术应用于具有独特成像能力的新型相机的开发。切实的影响是创建了3家新公司（Sequestim， QLM和Raycal），通过授权将技术转化为产品（Timepix芯片- Kromek），并与行业一起开发了另外12种产品原型。展望未来，QuantIC将继续推动改变范式的成像系统，如直接看到人体内部的能力，透过雾和烟的能力，使显微镜具有比经典物理允许的更高分辨率和更低噪音，量子雷达不会被周围的其他雷达干扰或混淆。这些发展将由新技术实现，如单光子相机、基于新材料的探测器和中红外光谱区域的单光子灵敏度。结合我们新的计算方法，QuantIC将使英国工业引领全球成像革命。QuantIC将与英国正在兴起的量子技术转移生态系统的其他重大投资相吻合。格拉斯哥大学已经拨款1.18亿英镑的研究中心的一层楼用于支持量子科学的基础研究，并拨款2800万英镑用于创建克莱德滨水区创新园区，这是一个与格拉斯哥市议会和苏格兰企业合作的8000万英镑的新开发项目，专注于将纳米和量子科学转化为光子学、光电子学和量子等使能技术。赫瑞瓦特大学已经在新的量子光学实验室上投资了200多万英镑，目前正在建设一个价值2000万英镑的全球研究创新和发现中心，该中心将于2019年开放，以推动新兴技术的转化。布里斯托尔正在创建一个价值4300万英镑的量子创新中心，该中心已经获得了2100万英镑的工业投资。斯特拉斯克莱德大学正在创建第二个1.5亿英镑的技术创新中心，围绕6个优先领域，其中一个是量子技术。所有这些都是更广泛的英国量子技术计划的一部分，该计划旨在将英国世界领先的科学转化为商业现实，以配合英国向高生产力和高技能经济的发展。QuantIC将引领量子成像研究议程，并作为平行活动和投资之间的纽带，从而确保改变范式的创新，从而改变未来的社会。

Quantum physics describes how nature links the properties of isolated microscopic objects through interactions mediated by so-called quantum entanglement and that apply not just to atoms but also to particles of light, "photons". These discoveries led to the first "quantum revolution", delivering a range of transformative technologies such as the transistor and the laser that we now take for granted. We are now on the cusp of a second "quantum revolution", which will, over the next 5-10 years, yield a new generation of electronic and photonic devices that exploit quantum science. The challenge is to secure a leadership position in the race to the industrialisation of quantum physics to claim a large share of this emerging global market, which is expected to be worth £1 billion to the UK economy.QuantIC, the UK's centre for quantum imaging, was formed over four years ago to apply quantum technologies to the development of new cameras with unique imaging capabilities. Tangible impacts are the creation of 3 new companies (Sequestim, QLM and Raycal), technology translation into products through licencing (Timepix chip - Kromek) and the ongoing development with industry of a further 12 product prototypes. Moving forward, QuantIC will continue to drive paradigm-changing imaging systems such as the ability to see directly inside the human body, the ability to see through fog and smoke, to make microscopes with higher resolution and lower noise than classical physics allows and quantum radars that cannot be jammed or confused by other radars around them. These developments will be enabled by new technologies, such as single-photon cameras, detectors based on new materials and single-photon sensitivity in the mid-infrared spectral regions. Combined with our new computational methods, QuantIC will enable UK industry to lead the global imaging revolution.QuantIC will dovetail into other significant investments in the Quantum technology transfer ecosystem which is emerging in the UK. The University of Glasgow has allocated one floor of the £118M research hub to supporting fundamental research in quantum science and £28M towards the creation of the Clyde Waterfront Innovation Campus, a new £80M development in collaboration with Glasgow City Council and Scottish Enterprise focussing on the translation of nano and quantum science for enabling technologies such as photonics, optoelectronics and quantum. Heriot-Watt has invested over £2M in new quantum optics laboratories and is currently building a £20M Global Research Innovation and Discovery Centre opening in 2019 to drive the translation of emerging technologies. Bristol is creating a £43M Quantum Innovation centre which already has £21M of industrial investment. Strathclyde University is creating a second £150M Technology Innovation Centre around 6 priority areas, one of which is Quantum Technology. All of these form part of the wider UK Quantum Technology Programme which is set to transform the UK's world leading science into commercial reality in line with the UK's drive towards a high productivity and high-skill economy. QuantIC will lead the quantum imaging research agenda and act as the bond between parallel activities and investments, thus ensuring paradigm-changing innovation that will transform tomorrow's society.