Physics of quantum technologies
We are a recently established programme group at the Jožef Stefan Institute and at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the University of Ljubljana, composed of several independent research laboratories spanning multiple topics and disciplines. We study the fundamental quantum phenomena that form the scientific basis of quantum technologies (QT). We investigate quantum-enhanced devices and their applications in quantum computing, quantum simulations, quantum communication, and quantum metrology. We explore applications of QT to other research disciplines (materials, computer science, chemistry, electronics, biology) and make use of artificial intelligence methods. We serve as a national hub for the field of QT and we are also active in outreach and education activities on the topic of QT.
We are looking for passionate new PhD students, Postdocs, and Master students to join the team (more info) !
Read more about quantum technology on the EU Quantum Flagship web portal and on the Wikipedia (also in Slovenian language). For a more in-depth review of the state-of-the-art, consult the ebook “Understanding Quantum Technologies” written by Olivier Ezratty (freely downloadable PDF, 1132 pages, last update in January 2023).
Feeling stressed out? Play a quantum game “Quantum Flytrap”! Or build your own quantum optics experiment. (Both work in a web browser)
We are grateful for funding from Slovenian Reseach Agency, ARRS, EU and RRF/NOO.
News
15. June 2026
UL FMF and the Jožef Stefan Institute joined their SiQUID partners at the project’s closing conference to present the results of Slovenia’s quantum communication infrastructure demonstration. Results included a test network for quantum key distribution (QKD) and optical links for end users. Read the report.
1. March 2026
The ARIS-funded QSim-NPQ project (J1-70063), led by Jaka Vodeb, has begun. Running from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2029, it combines quantum annealers, Rydberg-atom arrays, and numerical methods to study false-vacuum decay, correlated quantum matter, and symmetry-breaking dynamics. Project website.
22. Jan 2026
Group member Teodor Iličin received the Faculty Prešeren Award (fakultetna Prešernova nagrada) at the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Mathematics and Physics for his master’s thesis, Quasiparticles in superconducting quantum circuits, supervised by Rok Žitko. Congratulations! Read the announcement.
29. Nov 2025
Jaka Vodeb has secured national research funding from the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) to lead the three-year project Quantum Simulation of Non-equilibrium Phenomena on Quantum Devices, starting March 2026.
16. April 2025
Our Quantum Optics and Quantum Foundations Laboratory at UL FMF presented a public demonstration of quantum entanglement as part of the SiQUID project. The experiment demonstrated a violation of Bell inequalities with entangled photons, illustrating a foundation of quantum communication. Read more and explore the media coverage.
15. Nov 2024
Nobel laureate Anton Zeilinger visited Rainer Kaltenbaek’s Quantum Optics and Quantum Foundations Laboratory at UL FMF, where he learned about the SiQUID quantum communication project. His visit was followed by a public lecture on quantum entanglement. Read more.
18. Oct 2023
Luka Pavešič has successfully defended his PhD thesis. Congratulations!
28. April 2023
In scope of the Academic television of UL, (Spre)govori znanost, on May 11 at 6PM, Rok Žitko will participate in a live discussion on the topic of quantum technologies. Watch on aktv.si.
17. March 2023
We plan several events in the month of April to celebrate the World quantum day (April 14). See the annoucement for details.