Lukasz Dusanowski

Lukasz Dusanowski, Assistant Professor

Education and Training:

• 2011: Bachelor’s in Science in Technical Physics (Wrocław University of Technology)
• 2012: Master’s in Science in Technical Physics (Wrocław University of Technology)
• 2016: PhD in Physics (Wrocław University of Technology)
• 2017: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Würzburg
• 2021: Associate Research Scholar, Princeton University

Tell us a little about your background – where did you receive your undergraduate / graduate degrees.

I received my bachelor’s through PhD at Wroclaw University of Technology in Poland in the field of Physics. Afterward, I did two postdocs, one at the University of Würzburg in Germany, within the Humboldt fellowship, and the second at Princeton University.

When did you join FSU? What made you choose your university to build your research program?

There are many reasons why I chose to join FSU. During my faculty interview, I was deeply impressed by the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. It is a truly unique facility where groundbreaking research in physics, chemistry, and medicine takes place. Furthermore, FSU has consistently excelled in condensed matter physics, a field that I am very passionate about and which has many overlapping aspects with my research, promising exciting collaborative opportunities. Additionally, the FSU Quantum Initiative stands at the forefront of advancing research and education in modern quantum science and technologies. This initiative not only promotes intra- and inter-institutional collaboration; it also aims to position FSU as a leader in the rapidly evolving landscape of quantum research. By joining FSU, I am eager to contribute to these innovative efforts.

When did you become interested in quantum research? Who or what inspired you?

Since my undergrad studies, I have been very interested in quantum mechanics and its connection to semiconductors and photonics. Eventually, I learned about single photons, entanglement, and quantum light sources. At some point, I completed an internship at the University of Warsaw, which, at the time, was the only group in Poland working on so-called luminescence correlation spectroscopy. This technique can be used to record photon emission statistics through temporal correlations between photons, which, in principle, enables one to determine if one is actually observing emission from an isolated quantum system (like an atom or NV center in a diamond). When I returned to Wroclaw, I began my PhD program, where I introduced that technique to telecommunications wavelengths (the first system of its kind in Europe) in the application to semiconductor quantum dots. Since then, my work has always been related to quantum emitters and photonics in some aspect. Working with scientists from diverse fields is definitely inspiring. I love learning about new things, whether they are directly related to my work or not. Usually, conversations with such people lead to my best ideas, thanks to their very different perspectives.

What are your current research interests? Could you give an example of some recent result that you feel especially passionate about?

One of our goals is to use single photons to establish quantum links between qubits. To achieve this, we engineer atom-like systems in solid materials and use some of their discrete energy levels to form optical transitions and qubit states. This allows us to use light to manipulate and read out the qubit states, as well as establish entanglement with single photons. Creating entanglement between single photons and qubits is a fundamental building block for quantum networks. Recently, we demonstrated that isolated erbium ions in CaWO4 crystals can form such atom-like systems [1] and generate entanglement with photons at telecommunication wavelengths [2], which are compatible with long-distance quantum networks.

How would you describe your research to the general public? Why is your topic important?

My group's research encompasses various aspects of material science, photonics, and quantum optics. One of our main objectives is to localize and engineer new types of solid-state quantum emitters and interface them with nanoscale photonic structures for quantum networking and computing applications. These quantum emitters are atom-like systems whose optical transitions (changes in energy states that result in the emission of single photons) are linked to their internal degrees of freedom (such as spin). These internal degrees of freedom form qubits that can serve as quantum memories and become entangled (quantum correlated) with emitted photons. This capability provides a means to generate complex entangled photonic states or distribute entanglement between different quantum memories, which is a fundamental building block for realizing a quantum network.

What do you think about the future of quantum research? How can FSU contribute to that future?

I believe that quantum research is advancing at an exponential rate. This progress is closely linked to major technological breakthroughs, which have allowed us to observe and control individual quantum states with increasing precision. While efforts continue to improve individual qubits, these systems are beginning to scale up to impressive levels, with hundreds and thousands of physical qubits. Currently, we have multiple quantum computing and networking platforms, each with its own strengths and limitations. In the coming years, I expect a significant focus will be on integrating these different platforms to capitalize on their unique features, similar to how classical computers combine a CPU, GPU, memory, and other components. Although this integration is complex, I believe that FSU is well-positioned to contribute to these efforts, especially through our Quantum Initiative Faculty, who are engaged in research on various quantum materials and qubit platforms.

What are your interests outside of research? What do you like to do in your free time?

Outside of work, I spend most of my free time with my family. When we are not working in the garden or making home improvements, we enjoy traveling and spending time in nature. Since we moved to Tallahassee quite recently (last year), we are still exploring the city and the surrounding area. You can often find us in local state parks, playgrounds, and other child-friendly spots.