awards and distinctions
– Outstanding Postdoctoral Research Fellow 2016-17 of the University of Ottawa, Annual Research Report
– Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship 2016, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
– Young Scientist Award 2015 of the IUPAP, Commission on Laser Physics and Photonics (C17) “Fundamental Aspects”
– Springer Thesis Award 2015, recognizing outstanding Ph.D. research
– Doc.Award 2014 for outstanding doctoral theses (University of Vienna and City of Vienna)
– Best Paper Award of the city of Vienna 2013 for „Quantum entanglement of high angular momenta”
– „Quantum entanglement of high angular momenta” named as one of the Top 10 breakthroughs of the year 2012 by IOP’s Physics World.
selected coverage in the media
High-Dimensional Intra-City Quantum Cryptography with Structured Photons
(Optica 4, 1006 (2017). DOI: 10.1364/OPTICA.4.001006)
“High-Dimensional Quantum Encryption Performed in Real-World City Conditions for First Time” – OSA
“High-dimensional quantum encryption performed in real-world city conditions for first time” – phys.org
“The ‘unhackable’ messages that could revolutionize communication: 4D Quantum encryption demonstrated across a city for first time” – dailymail
“Ottawa Displays High-Dimensional Quantum Encryption” – photonics
“Quantum-encrypted message sent wirelessly in a city for the first time” – silicon republic
High-dimensional quantum cloning and applications to quantum hacking
(Science Advances 3, e1601915 (2017). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1601915)
“Protecting quantum computing networks against hacking threats” – phys.org
“Researchers’ quantum hacking machine may help protect against quantum computing hacks” – computerworld
“Researchers Uncover Clues To Protect Quantum Computing Networks Against Hackers” – TechTimes
Twisted light transmission over 143 km
(PNAS 113, 13648–13653 (2016). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1612023113)
Quantum entanglement of angular momentum states with quantum numbers up to 10,010
(PNAS 113, 13642–13647 (2016). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1616889113)
“Twisted light beams sent 143 km across the sea” – physicsworld
“Twisted light beams a greeting over a record distance of 143 km” – New Scientist
“New records set up with ‘screws of light’” – phys.org
“Schrauben aus Licht” – pro-physik
“Streckenrekord auf den Kanaren” – FAZ (German newspaper)
“Wiener Physiker erzielen Rekord bei Verdrehung des Lichts” – derStandard (Austrian newspaper)
“Rekorddistanz von gedrehtem Licht“ – ORF (Austrian national network)
“Tordu, un laser a transmis un signal sur 143km” Sciene et Vie (French science magazine, PDF)
Automated Search for new Quantum Experiments
(Physical Review Letters 116, 090405 (2016). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.090405)
“Physicists Unleash AI to Devise Unthinkable Experiments” – Scientific American
“Quantum experiments designed by machines” – phys.org
“An Algorithm to Dream Up Quantum Experiments” – Optics & Photonics News, OSA
“Computer program dreams up new quantum experiments” – physicsworld
“Quantum mechanics is so weird that scientists need AI to design experiments” – c|net
“Computer konzipiert Quantenexperimente” – pro-physik
“Verflixt originell, der Knabe” – FAZ (German newspaper)
“Quantenphysiker lassen Computerprogramm Experimente entwerfen” – derStandard (Austrian newspaper)
“Computer entwirft originelle Experimente” – ORF (Austrian national network)
“Ein Programm entwirft quantenphysikalische Experimente” Neue ZuercherZeitung (Swiss newspaper)
Multi-photon entanglement in high dimensions
(Nature Photonics 10, 248-252 (2016). DOI: 10.1038/nphoton.2016.12)
“Three ‘twisted’ photons in 3 dimensions” – phys.org
“QUIRKY SCIENCE: Three ‘twisted’ photons in three dimensions” – dailystar (largest daily English newspaper in Bangladesh)
“Quantum entanglement: Three twisted light particles uncover a new generation of superfast computers” – International Business Times
“Wiener Physiker verschränken Photonen in drei Dimensionen” – derStandard (Austrian newspaper)
“Auch Quanten können Pirouetten drehen” – Wiener Zeitung (Austrian newspaper)
“Consiguen una nueva forma de enlace cuántico con tres fotones retorcidos” – La Vanguardia (Largest daily Catalan newspaper)
Twisted photon entanglement through turbulent air across Vienna
(PNAS 112, 14197-14201 (2015). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1517574112)
“Researchers take two big steps toward quantum computing” – phys.org
“Two Steps Closer to a Quantum Internet” – IEEE Spectrum
Communication with spatially modulated light through turbulent air across Vienna
(New Journal of Physics 16, 113028 (2014). DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/16/11/113028)
“Twisted light beamed across Vienna” – BBC
“Twisted light sends Mozart record distance through air” – New Scientist
“Twisted light waves sent across Vienna” – IOP news
“Scientists transmit twisted light beams over 3km distance” – Times of India (largest-selling English daily newspaper in India)
“Experiment in Vienna Shows That Ground-to-Satellite Communication with Twisted Light is Possible” – IEEE Spectrum
“Verdrehtes Licht über den Dächern Wiens” – ORF (Austrian national network)
“Lichttornados über Wien zur Datenübertragung” – derStandard (Austrian newspaper)
“Verdrehtes Laserlicht für gewaltige Datenmengen” – Spektrum der Wissenschaft (German monthly science magazine)
“Datentransfer mit Korkenzieher-Licht” – Bild der Wissenschaft (German monthly science magazine)
Generation and confirmation of a (100× 100)-dimensional entangled quantum system
(PNAS 111, 6243-6247 (2014). DOI: 0.1073/pnas.1402365111)
“Record quantum entanglement of multiple dimensions” – phys.org
“Entering the 103rd dimension: Scientists reveal major quantum breakthrough that could lead to ultrafast computers and unbreakable encryption” – dailymail
“Quantenverschränkung in 100 Dimensionen” – ORF (Austrian national network)
“Hundertfach verschränkt” – pro-physik
Real-time imaging of quantum entanglement
(Scientific Reports 3, 1914 (2013). DOI: doi:10.1038/srep01914)
“Quantenspuk erstmals gefilmt” – ORF (Austrian national network)
“Quantenverschränkung live auf Kamera” – pro-physik
Quantum entanglement of high angular momenta
(Science 338, 640-643 (2012). DOI:10.1126/science.1227193)
“Quantum entanglement gets extra twist” – CBS
“Spooky Quantum Entanglement Gets Extra Twist” – Scientific American
“World record for the entanglement of twisted light quanta” – phys.org
“Spooky action with twisted beams” – IOP news (print)
“Wiener Physiker melden Quantenrekord” – ORF (Austrian national network)
“Neuer Wiener Quantenweltrekord” – derStandard (Austrian newspaper)
“Verschränkung von verdrehten Lichtquanten” – pro-physik (print)
Robert Fickler 