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Photonic and Quantum Technologies

The Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies is a world class organisation building on Aotearoa New Zealand’s (NZ) internationally acknowledged strength in the fields of quantum optics, photonics and precision atomic physics. Photonics, the manipulation of the quantum building blocks of light, and the precision control of matter at the atomic scale through the use of light, underpin technological development in areas such as computing, advanced sensing technologies and medical imaging, and communication. The photonics industry in NZ is already worth at least $1.2bn and is growing at 10% per annum. In addition, the world is entering a second quantum revolution. The first gave us silicon-based electronics. The second is set to revolutionise how we process information, sense our environment and understand our world.

The UK, Europe and the US have already pledged over NZ$4bn in additional funding for this quantum revolution. China is committing similar, undisclosed levels of funding. The Dodd-Walls Centre, as the nation’s greatest engine of physical sciences research (42% of NZ impact in the Physical Sciences, ten Marsden and four MBIE Smart Ideas awards in the 2019 funding round) is in a unique position to capture value for NZ from this multi-billion dollar global investment. The Centre is already making significant contributions to the advancement of this revolution.

In addition to our economic impact, we directly improve the wellbeing of all New Zealanders through our environmental and medical research. We are developing new tools and techniques for detecting and treating cancer, for example, and have established the NZ node of the Global Environmental Measurement and Monitoring Network. We work with partners in the AgTech and Māori Economy sectors to improve the rural economy. We have a direct impact upon the wellbeing of our people and Aotearoa - this beautiful country in which we all live.

Photonics and quantum technologies are set to be significant drivers of the diversification of the NZ economy across the next decade. The Centre continues to build upon our existing internationally-acknowledged research strength, with a programme of strategically targeted research questions which maximise our impact on a global scale.

History

1900

The strange world of quantum theory

At the beginning of the 20th century, science legends Einstein, Schrödinger and Heisenberg discovered a vast, uncharted relam of physics with unfamiliar rules: quantum physics.

1952

The pioneer

Jack Dodd returns to Otago University from the UK, where he had completed a PhD in nuclear physics. There were no resources to continue with his work in New Zealand, so he starts afresh in the field of atoms and electromagnetic radiation. Jack’s pioneering research would eventually help to establish the field of quantum optics.

1960

Major breakthroughs

Alongside close colleague George Series, Jack develops the theoretical explanation for quantum beats. In the same year, the laser was invented, driving an explosion of interest in the field of quantum optics. Finally, scientists are able to observe and control the quantum state of atoms.

1971-1987

A golden era

Dan Walls, along with colleagues Crispin Gardiner, Howard Carmichael and John Harvey, develop an internationally respected reputation with their work at Waikato University. Their summer schools attracted leading physicists from around the globe.

1998

Bose Einstein Condensates put Otago on the map

Jack Dodd returns to Otago University from the UK, where he had completed a PhD in nuclear physics. There were no resources to continue with his work in New Zealand, so he starts afresh in the field of atoms and electromagnetic radiation...

2015

Achieving critical mass

The Dodd-Walls Centre Director Professor David Hutchinson and Deputy Director Professor Neil Broderick successfully bid for the centre to become a Centre of Research Excellence.

2021

Funding success

Dodd-Walls successfully achieved renewed funding as a Centre of Research Excellence through to 2028.

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In the Community

Co-developing and delivering education outreach content and activities that integrate indigenous knowledge and priorities in a manner that better serves Māori and Pasifika communities.

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2019 outreach

Collaborations

We collaborate with scientific industry leaders, the creative industries and other tertiary institutions.

If you are interested in partnering with the Dodd-Walls Centre, please get in touch via the Contact Us page.

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INTERNATIONAL

Our Science Advisory Board (SAB) members are world leading scientists in the fields of research represented by the Dodd-Walls Centre. This international SAB meets every two years.

Annual reports

We produce an Annual Report showcasing the Centre’s research successes.

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2020

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2019

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2018

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2017

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OUR people

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Professor Frédérique Vanholsbeeck

Director

The University of Auckland

Professor Joachim Brand

Deputy Director

Massey University

Associate Professor Jevon Longdell

Deputy Director Science & Otago Lead

University of Otago

Dr Cushla McGoverin

Deputy Director Industry

The University of Auckland

Professor Jon-Paul Wells

Science Team Director’s nominee, Principal Investigator

University of Canterbury

Charlotte Walshe

Chair of Governance Board and Industry Strategy Group

Jade Corporation

Dr Dianne McCarthy

Governance Board Member and Chair of Education Strategy Group

DCM Solutions Ltd

Professor Neil Broderick

Principal Investigator

The University of Auckland

Associate Professor Katharina Ruckstuhl

Deputy Director Māori, Te Ao Māori Chair, Associate Investigator

University of Otago

Dr Simon Poole

Industry Advisory Board Chair

Associate Professor Ashton Bradley

Research Question Leader Self-organisation (SO)

University of Otago

Professor Keith Gordon

Research Question Leader Health and Environment (HE)

University of Otago

Associate Professor Stuart Murdoch

Research Question Leader Future technologies for communication systems (FC)

The University of Auckland

Associate Professor Scott Parkins

Research Question Leader Decoherence and Precision Measurement (DM)

The University of Auckland

Dr Ludmila Adam

Associate Investigator

The University of Auckland

Dr Claude Aguergaray

Principal Investigator

The University of Auckland

Associate Professor Mikkel Andersen

Principal Investigator

University of Otago

Dr Baptiste Auguié

Associate Investigator

Victoria University of Wellington

Dr Danny Baillie

Associate Investigator

University of Otago

Professor Richard Barker

Pro-Vice Chancellor (Sciences)

University of Otago

Professor Richard Blaikie

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise)

University of Otago

Professor Blair Blakie

Principal Investigator

University of Otago

Dr Joseph Borbely

Associate Investigator

Measurement Standards Laboratory

Professor Nicola Brasch

Principal Investigator

Auckland University of Technology

Dr Vladimir Bubanja

Associate Investigator

Measurement Standards Laboratory

Professor Howard Carmichael

Principal Investigator

The University of Auckland

Dr Kai Chen

Associate Investigator

Victoria University of Wellington

Dr Juliette Cheyne

Associate Investigator

The University of Auckland

Dr Laura Cobus

Associate Investigator

The University of Auckland

Associate Professor Stéphane Coen

Principal Investigator

The University of Auckland

Dr James Croft

Associate Investigator

University of Otago

Dr Nathaniel Davis

Associate Investigator

Victoria University of Wellington

Dr Amita Deb

Principal Investigator

University of Otago

Professor John Dudley

Universite de Franche-Comte-CNRS

Dr Johan Grand

Principal Investigator

Measurement Standards Laboratory

Professor Artur Ekert

Professor David Hutchinson

Principal Investigator

University of Otago

Associate Professor Miro Erkintalo

Principal Investigator

The University of Auckland

Professor Allister Ferguson

University of Strathclyde

Professor Jörg Frauendiener

Associate Investigator

University of Otago

Associate Professor Vladimir Golovko

Associate Investigator

University of Canterbury

Dr Marie Graff

Associate Investigator

The University of Auckland

Professor John Harvey

Principal Investigator

The University of Auckland

Associate Professor Maarten Hoogerland

Principal Investigator

The University of Auckland

Dr Jianyong Jin

Associate Investigator

The University of Auckland

Keith Jones

Associate Investigator

Measurement Standards Laboratory

Dr Marcus Jones

Associate Investigator

Auckland University of Technology

Professor Niels Kjærgaard

Principal Investigator

University of Otago

Professor Bernd Krauskopf

Principal Investigator

The University of Auckland

Dr Rainer Künnemeyer

Associate Investigator

D&K Technology

Emeritus Associate Professor Rainer Leonhardt

Emeritus Investigator

The University of Auckland

Dr Nancy Longnecker

Associate Investigator

University of Otago

Dr Sam Lowrey

Associate Investigator

University of Otago

Professor Nergis Mavalvava

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Professor Brendan McCane

Associate Investigator

University of Otago

Professor Jim Metson

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)

University of Auckland

Dr Sara Miller

Principal Investigator

University of Otago

Dr Michel Nieuwoudt

Principal Investigator

The University of Auckland

Professor Hinke Osinga

Principal Investigator

The University of Auckland

Julie Baker

Education Manager

MOTAT

Professor Bill Phillips

NIST and University of Maryland

Dr Ana Rakonjac

Associate Investigator

Measurement Standards Laboratory

Professor Michael Reid

Associate Investigator

University of Canterbury

Associate Professor Harald Schwefel

Principal Investigator

University of Otago

Dr Jami Shepherd

Associate Investigator, Agnes Blakie Memorial Fellow

The University of Auckland

Professor Cather Simpson

Deputy Director Industry

The University of Auckland

Associate Professor Kasper van Wijk

Principal Investigator

The University of Auckland

Dr Dominik Vogt

Associate Investigator

The University of Auckland

Associate Professor Geoffrey Waterhouse

Associate Investigator

The University of Auckland

Professor Ian Walmsley

University of Oxford

Professor Peter Xu

Associate Investigator

The University of Auckland

Professor Ulrich Zülicke

Principal Investigator

Victoria University of Wellington

Emma Juggins

Programme Manager

University of Otago

Dhiraj Mani

Business Development Manager

Jessa Barder

Deputy Director Education

Otago Museum

Dr Craig Grant

Education Manager

Otago Museum

Dr Ian Griffin

Honorary Fellow

Otago Museum

Sally Manuireva

General Manager Museum Experience

MOTAT

Andy Wang

Outreach Coordinator

The University of Auckland

Business Support Co-Ordinator

Business Support Co-ordinator

University of Otago

Gwen Slote

Accountant

University of Otago

Anna Andersson

Accountant

The University of Auckland

Dr Marco Bonesi

Postdoctoral Fellow

The University of Auckland

Dr Chris Bradly

Postdoctoral Fellow

Massey University

Dr Matthew Chilcott

Postdoctoral Fellow

University of Otago

Dr Shahna Haneef

Research Fellow

The University of Auckland

Dr Thom Minnée

Research Fellow

The University of Auckland

Dr Ian Hendry

Research Fellow

The University of Auckland

Dr Peter Jeszenski

Postdoctoral Fellow

Massey University

Dr Yewon Jung

Research Fellow

The University of Auckland

Dr Nicholas Lambert

Postdoctoral Fellow

University of Otago

Dr Kyoung Hyun Lee

Postdoctoral Fellow

The University of Auckland

Dr Juncheng Liu

Postdoctoral Fellow

University of Otago

Dr Nicholas Monahan

Research Fellow

Victoria University of Wellington

Dr Vincent Ng

Research Fellow

The University of Auckland

Dr Susanne Otto

Postdoctoral Fellow

University of Otago

Dr Michael Price

Research Fellow

Victoria University of Wellington

Dr Kishor Kumar Ramavarmaraja

Research Fellow

University of Otago

Dr Lucile Sanchez

Postdoctoral Fellow

University of Otago

Dr Alex Smith

Postdoctoral Fellow

The University of Auckland

Contact Us

We’d be delighted to hear from you if you are interested in collaborating with us or you have an innovative research idea.

Contact us
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