Professor John Cater

Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Canterbury. research has focussed on space systems engineering, and part of this has been working towards quantum-enabled free-space optical communications using satellite platforms. Prof Caters is the associate investigator of the MBIE-funded optical communications project led by Dr. Nicholas Rattenbury at the University of Auckland, which is a collaborative endeavour with the German Aerospace Center (the DLR). This is aligned with the Dodd-Walls theme of Future Technologies for Communication Systems. Prof Cater also leads the New Zealand part of a collaboration with the Australian National University to develop and compare protocols for quantum key distribution using orbital nodes, as evidenced by some recent publications. He has also been a named key individual in Dr Harald Schwefel’s Smart Idea grant which aimed to develop a photonic radiometer for use in space, contribution was more in mission design.