Category: News

Applications are now open for the PhD program in Physics and Nanotechnology at the University of Trieste. The program offers a dynamic and interdisciplinary research environment, with opportunities across a broad spectrum of fundamental and applied physics topics, including quantum technologies, material science and nanoscience.

The University of Trieste is part of a vibrant scientific ecosystem with strong connections to leading research centers such as ICTP, SISSA, Elettra Sincrotrone, CNR-IOM and CNR-INO.

Interested candidates can find more information and apply through the official portal:

https://portale.units.it/en/research/phd/call

Deadline for applications: June 6 2025, 1:00 pm

Date: 17th to 19th June 2025

Fifth school on quantum foundations dedicated to Prof. GianCarlo Ghirardi.

Quantum Mechanics is extremely successful in predicting experimental results and has a vast range of applications. Nonetheless, many unanswered questions remain. The school will introduce Master and PhD students to the still outstanding problems in our understanding of quantum foundations.
To give a deep look into the foundations of quantum mechanics, lectures will be given by experts in the field. An extensive time will be dedicated to selected contributed talks.

Link to the school website: www.qmts.it/conferences/fpqp2025/

The conference is supported by the University of Trieste, INFN and QUCOM. 

As of today, the Universities of Trieste and Udine are connected by a quantum link running over optical fiber.

The official presentation of the quantum connection took place today at UniTS in the presence of Rector Roberto Di Lenarda; Alessia Rosolen, Regional Councillor for Labor, Training, Education, Research, Universities, and Family; Sebastiano Callari, Regional Councillor for Heritage, State Property, General Services, and IT Systems; Pier Luca Montessoro, Rector’s Delegate for IT Networks and Websites at the University of Udine; Angelo Bassi, project representative for UniTS; and Gian Luca Foresti, project representative for UniUD.

This quantum link between the two universities enables ultra-secure communication through Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), a protocol that leverages the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics to generate encryption keys. Unlike classical key exchange methods, QKD ensures that any attempt to intercept the transmission irreversibly alters the quantum states being exchanged, making eavesdropping immediately detectable and guaranteeing an unprecedented level of security.

The realization of this connection required both the acquisition of quantum communication devices and access to the optical fiber linking the two universities. The purchase of the necessary equipment was made possible through the Quantum FVG project, supported by the Regional Councillorship for Labor, Training, Education, Research, Universities, and Family of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region. Meanwhile, the optical fiber infrastructure was provided with the support of the Regional Councillorship for Heritage, State Property, General Services, and IT Systems.

The initiative has a dual purpose: advancing research in cybersecurity while also studying the requirements for a stable and long-term quantum connection, paving the way for future operational services. A key aspect of this study will be the coexistence of classical and quantum signals on the same infrastructure. If successful, this project will mark a significant step toward the practical implementation of quantum communication networks.

Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste has established the SciQC unit for Scientific and Quantum Computing. The unit is part of its IT Group and consists of a diverse team of scientists and engineers from various disciplines. SciQC builds on prior experience in data analysis and mathematics and is tasked with exploring practical applications of quantum computing for synchrotron and FEL applications, including X-ray imaging and spectroscopy.

The SciQC unit is located at Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, in the Area Science Park (Basovizza), and is led by George Kourousias (Elettra).

Date: 10th to 12th September 2024

Fourth school on quantum foundations dedicated to Prof. GianCarlo Ghirardi.

Quantum Mechanics is extremely successful in predicting experimental results and has a vast range of applications. Nonetheless, many unanswered questions remain. The school will introduce Master and PhD students to the still outstanding problems in our understanding of quantum foundations.
To give a deep look into the foundations of quantum mechanics, lectures will be given by experts in the field. An extensive time will be dedicated to selected contributed talks.

Link to the school website: https://www.qmts.it/conferences/fpqp2024/

The conference is supported by the University of Trieste, INFN and QUCOM. 

Date: 19th September 2024
We are pleased to invite you to the one-day Symposium on “Recent Trends in Quantum Computing and Quantum Technologies” at the University of Trieste (Aula Stasi, Leonardo Building ICTP) on September 19th. This event marks the conclusion of this year’s “Colloquium Series in Theoretical and Computational Physics” which has featured a range of seminars exploring active directions of research in quantum matter and their applications. The symposium will bring together young researchers from Trieste’s research institutes and renowned external experts to present their latest findings. Open to everyone (especially students) this symposium offers a unique opportunity to strengthen collaborations in the Trieste quantum community and establish new connections.
On behalf of the organising committee (Andrea Trombettoni, Francesco Scazza) at the Physics Department of the University of Trieste.

Trieste, January 23, 2023 – Two new laboratories for quantum physics at the University of Trieste have been inaugurated: the ArQuS laboratory (Artificial Quantum Systems), where artificial quantum systems will be studied through the control of individual atoms, and the  QCI (Quantum Communication and Information) laboratory for quantum communication.
The laboratories are located in the spaces of the National Research Council (CNR) at the Area Science Park (Basovizza) and are led by Francesco Scazza (UniTS) and Alessandro Zavatta (INO-CNR).

ArQuS Laboratory – Cold atoms for quantum sciences and technologies
The ArQuS laboratory (Artificial Quantum Systems) is established to create artificial quantum systems through precise control of individual ytterbium atoms.
Francesco Scazza, the laboratory’s director, explains: “The quantum systems of cold atoms realized in the ArQuS laboratory can be used as prototypes for studying the interaction of a large number of quantum particles, creating the so-called quantum simulators. Precise control over individual atoms can also be exploited to generate states of matter strongly correlated, such as entangled states with many particles, an essential resource for future quantum computers and atomic clocks.”

QCI Laboratory – Quantum networks for maximum security of information systems
The QCI laboratory is dedicated to research and technological development of new solutions for quantum communications over optical fiber.
Angelo Bassi emphasizes: “While in traditional computer networks, data can be intercepted, in a quantum network, this is impossible.”
Alessandro Zavatta, the laboratory’s director, explains: “Quantum communications represent an advanced and highly secure approach to information transmission. In the QCI laboratory, we are currently developing innovative systems for quantum distribution of cryptographic keys and direct quantum communications, both over optical fiber and in free space.”

QCI is funded by Quantum FVG and QuFree. ArQuS has received funding from OrbiDynaMIQs, FastOrbit, and CoQuS.

The Qiskit Fall Fest unfolded successfully at the University of Trieste (UniTS) from November 15 to 17, 2023, orchestrated by local organizers Edoardo Zappia, Oxana Mishina, Fabio Anselmi, Alberto D’Onofrio, Luca Bortolussi, Angelo Bassi, Fabio Benatti, Marianna Giustino, and Emanuele Ballarin.
Under the global organization of IBM Quantum, the event, hosted by UniTS’s Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Geosciences, as well as the Department of Physics, provided a rich program that blended academic insights and practical experiences.
November 15 – Conference:
– The event commenced with opening remarks by Edoardo Zappia.
– Professors Angelo Bassi and Fabio Benatti shared insights into “Academia & Quantum.”
– Representatives of IBM and Data Reply explored “Quantum Economy, Roadmap, and Applications.”
November 16 – Lessons and Practice:
– The first session introduced Quantum Computing and IBM Composer by Maria Bondani, Giuseppe Bisicchia, Gabriele Cenedese.
– The second session involved hands-on experiences with Qiskit and Python for basic circuits.
November 17 – Lesson and Qiskit Challenge
– The third session delved into advanced Quantum Algorithms and Modern Projects.
– Participants engaged in the Qiskit Challenge, testing their skills in quantum computing.
The event successfully catered to quantum enthusiasts and experts alike, offering a blend of academic insights and practical experiences. Participants had the opportunity to register and actively shape the schedule for lessons based on their preferences.
The Qiskit Fall Fest was a collaborative effort with partners including AISF, NQSTI, CNR-INO, REPLY, AI25, and BeQuantum.

The 15th Italian Quantum Information Science Conference (IQIS2023) convened in Trieste from September 18 to 22, 2023. Hosted by the University of Trieste, the conference marked a significant milestone as the inaugural event of the newly formed Italian Society for Quantum Sciences and Technologies (SISTEQ). It was also one of the most attended meetings of the series, with over 200 registered scientists.

IQIS, a renowned series, has consistently united Italian and international researchers in Quantum Information Science, facilitating collaborations among senior experts, postdocs, and students. Past editions were held in Camerino (2008), Pisa (2009), Turin (2010), Vietri sul Mare (2011), Padua (2012), Como (2013), Salerno (2014), Monopoli (2015), Rome (2016), Florence (2017), Catania (2018), Milan (2019), Naples (2021) and Palermo (2022).

Link to the conference website: https://iqis2023.it

The conference was supported by the University of Trieste and INFN.