Quantum technology (QT) platforms, capable of exploiting non-classical states of atoms, light and solid-state systems, have been recently realised in a variety of strategic fields, such as communication, computation, information, sensing and metrology. Successful achievements in the visible and near-infrared parts of the electromagnetic spectrum have led to recent advancements in miniaturized and compact geometries. This, in turn, has enabled, on one hand, the implementation of highly-integrated quantum platforms and, on the other hand, the extension to non-conventional spectral regions, whose peculiar features are still underexploited. In this regard, QT migration to the terahertz (THz) frequency range is technologically challenging, although of huge technological potential. In fact, continuous-variable entangled THz states preparation can become the founding blocks for future implementation of quantum computation protocols, quantum teleportation or to increase capacity, robustness and security of selected free-space quantum communication channels. For example, the peculiar features of THz radiation, transmissivity through otherwise opaque materials, or robustness with respect to Rayleigh scattering, can potentially allow a plethora of frontier applications, such as quantum-secured fast digital data transfer in opaque or harsh environments (dust, smog, particulate) or quantum-enhanced sensitivity in spectroscopic and metrological THz setups. The goal of QATACOMB is to develop a miniaturized solid-state platform for generation, detection and complete characterization of non-classical squeezed states of THz frequency light. This will exploit THz quantum cascade laser (QCL) frequency combs (FCs) as nonlinear sources, coupled with graphene nanoscale quantum sensors and cavity-coupled ultrafast coherent detectors. QCLs are, to date, the most efficient miniaturized lasers at THz frequencies. Their broad gain and controlled group velocity dispersion has recently enabled compact FC generation, based on four-wave mixing (FWM) processes that take place within the gain medium. As a consequence, QCLs are ideal candidates for the generation of multi- mode squeezed states of light, due to the presence of quantum-correlated side-band modes. In particular, quantum-enhanced sensitivity, provided by two-mode squeezed states has been indeed demonstrated in visible/NIR spectroscopy and metrology setups, as well as in applications for gravitational waves and target detection, motivating a similar approach for THz quantum sensing, where two-mode squeezed states can be achieved by employing THz QCL harmonic combs. Moreover, control of rotational degrees of freedom in molecules by THz radiation can provide novel ways to exploit cold molecular samples for QT. The successful achievement of the project goals will be disruptive, assessing fundamental knowledge in the strategic fields of THz photonics and QT. To fulfill QATACOMB goals, we will leverage on the Italian Quantum Simulation Infrastructure, PAS(C)QUA (Italian quantum platform for the development of a quantum processor), recently funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research through the CNR (3.5 M€ for the first year), that will make available a MBE facility for growing III-V and THz QCL structures, and will provide the foundation of all THz fabrication and characterization facilities.

Industrial processes involving chemical reactions are typically controlled by macroscopic parameters, such as temperature or pressure, which usually results in a huge waste of energy and the massive production of unwanted by-products leading to energy consumption and pollution. To overcome these problems, ChemiQ aims at developing « tomorrow's chemistry » with a much higher level of control and selectivity. The ChemiQ consortium will describe and control the chemical reactivity at a microscopic level via the systematic use of quantum phenomena such as quantum coherence induced by laser. The use of coherent wave-packet can be seen as a paradigm shift in chemistry with extensions to biology. This 48-months project unifies relevant state-of-the-art competences in theory and experiment, at the interface between physics and chemistry, creating a new community on the long term to make the European Union the leader in this new chemistry. The project gathers the cutting-edge theoretical developments in the emerging field of molecular quantum dynamics (Multi-Layer approach of the Multi-configuration Time-Dependent Hartree (MCTDH) method, light dressed molecules approaches) with state-of-the-art lab-technology. In particular, the conjunction of the most recent experimental techniques will open the possibility to control the motion of electrons and nuclei, molecular vibrations and rotations, each of them on its natural time scale. It will thus be possible « to operate on » molecular systems controlling all the different aspects of the system like in a sort of « chemical surgery » by a « photonic scalpel ». We target several experimental breakthroughs including coherent control of excited state dynamics in biological chromophores, the control of all the aspects of an elementary process of high industrial interest, the CH activation of methane on nickel surfaces, and experiments with ultra-violet (sub)-femtopulses, opening the door to the field of « attochemistry ».

The goal of our project is to study skew metrics and their potential cryptographic applications. These metrics in some sense generalise the so-called rank metric which has important applications in the fields of algebraic coding theory, in cryptography, data storage and network coding. The common ground of these metrics is the property of non-commutativity of Euclidean rings called Ore rings, extending the classical notion of commutative polynomial rings by skewing the multiplication with an endomorphism and/or a derivation operator. These operations enrich considerably the possibilities for designing new metrics and new codes endowed with efficient arithmetical operations. This is promising for efficient and secure concepts and implementations in cryptography. The project consists of three complementary parts. These parts are connected and a close collaboration will strengthen the research results. (1) A theoretical part dealing with linear codes endowed with skew metrics. These metrics and these codes are intrinsically related to skew polynomial rings or Ore rings. These rings generalise the notion of classical polynomial rings by skewing the multiplication with an endomorphism and introducing a derivation operator. In this project, we aim at studying new metrics and evaluation codes derived from these rings. We will investigate combinatorial bounds and search for the existence of optimal codes regarding those bounds. (2) An algorithmic part dedicated to the search for efficient decoding algorithms and the analysis of the security of cryptographic primitives based on codes endowed with skew metrics. This part implies the design of new error-correcting codes, searching for new decoding algorithms as well as their analysis for the design of new efficient and secure encryption and signature schemes from these codes. We will also study the security against classical algorithmic attacks as well as attacks related to the use of hints obtained by side-channel analysis (see (3)) or faults on implementations, that we will realise. (3) A part on implementation of rank-metric based encryption schemes. The goal is to study their practical security including side-channel and fault attacks. As an input we will take in particular outputs from (2) as well as rank-metric based proposals which were submitted to the NIST standardisation process for post-quantum cryptography, or other signature schemes who could be candidates to the reopening process. The study of leaks and the impact of faults on specific implementations will feed (2) concerning the search for fault-tolerant and side-channel proof implementations. One of the main characteristics of this project is its large interdisciplinarity. It regroups French and German researchers coming from various fields from algebraic coding theory to algorithmics and implementation. It aims at developing strong links and future collaborations between these teams with a common objective to improve knowledge in the field of post-quantum cryptography based on skew codes and skew metrics, with practical implications. If the time schedule is coherent, one of our goal would be to participate to at least to the submission of a rank metric based cryptographic scheme.