The network “Collective effects and optomechanics in ultra-cold matter” (ColOpt) trained early stage researchers (ESRs) in fundamental science and applications in the areas of cold atom and quantum physics, optical technologies and complexity science. It consists of nine academic nodes and three companies from six European countries, supported by two partners in Brazil and the USA, and ten further non-academic and academic partners in Europe.
Collective, nonlinear dynamics and spontaneous self-organization are abundant in nature, sciences and technology. Building on this interdisciplinary relevance, a particular novelty of ColOpt is the integration of classical and quantum self-organisation. The research program focused on collective interactions of light with laser-cooled cold and quantum-degenerate matter. We explored innovative control of matter through opto-mechanical effects, identified novel quantum phases, investigated light transport in strongly scattering and disordered systems, advanced the associated trapping, laser and optical technologies, thereby enhancing the knowledge in non-equilibrium quantum dynamics and of long-range coupled systems and establishing new concepts in quantum information and simulation.
The work was organised in four scientific work packages with the objectives:
1. To demonstrate novel self-organised spatial states of cold classical and quantum degenerate matter.
2. To implement novel trapping geometries and complex light fields for quantum information.
3. To advance collective scattering and coupled dipole dynamics in dense atomic samples.
4. To advance the supporting laser technology.
The relevance of this work for society emerges from four main strands and motivations:
1. To achieve a deeper understanding of non-equilibrium quantum systems is a major quest from a fundamental point of view, as this underpins our understanding of how quantum systems interface with each other and the classical world.
2. To build new Quantum Technologies on non-trivial quantum aspects is expected to provide a revolution in applications such as secure communication, computation, material science and sensing, often referred to as “second quantum revolution”.
3. To understand complex systems with nonlinear interactions, memory and feedback in physics and to foster the ability to transfer this knowledge to more complex systems in biology, ecology, economy.
4. To provide skilful and responsible researchers, who are able to drive technological innovation, have an understanding of potential impacts and can participate as informed citizens in societal discussions.
The network concluded with the successful training of a cohort of 15 highly skilled innovative and outward-looking researchers able to develop and advance successfully their career in a wide range of industrial, government and academic institutions in the international setting of the European Research Area. The researchers drove scientific and technological progress published in high-reputation journals, engaged in dissemination to the scientific community and to the general public and experienced first steps on the road to leadership and independent scientific endeavour.
