Professor Pieter Kok
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Professor of Theoretical Physics
p.kok@sheffield.ac.uk
E12a, Hicks Building
Full contact details
Professor Pieter Kok
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
E12a
Hicks Building
Hounsfield Road
Sheffield
S3 7RH
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
E12a
Hicks Building
Hounsfield Road
Sheffield
S3 7RH
- Profile
-
My research is in theoretical optical quantum information processing. I am interested in physical architectures and applications for optical quantum devices: How can we use quantum light for practical quantum communication, metrology, imaging, and computing.
Departmental administration
- Programme Lead for Physics and Astronomy (2024-present)
- Qualifications
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- Physics degree, University of Utrecht, the Netherlands (1991-1997)
- Physics PhD, University of Wales, Bangor (1998-2001)
Academic career
- NRC Research Fellow, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA (2001-2003)
- Research Fellow, Hewlett-Packard Labs, Bristol (2003-2005)
- Research Fellow, University of Oxford (2005-2007)
- Lecturer, University of Sheffield (2007-present)
- Research interests
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Any practical distributed, long-distance quantum technology—such as the quantum Internet—will most likely involve light as a quantum information carrier. It is therefore important to understand the capabilities and limitations of photons as quantum bits.
Broadly speaking, my research falls into three categories:
- linear optical quantum computing
- hybrid quantum computing with light and matter qubits
- quantum metrology
- Publications
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Show: Featured publications All publications
Featured publications
Journal articles
- Quantum Limits to Incoherent Imaging are Achieved by Linear Interferometry. Physical Review Letters, 124(8), ---.
- Geometric perspective on quantum parameter estimation. AVS Quantum Science, 2(1).
- Optimal Imaging of Remote Bodies Using Quantum Detectors. Physical Review Letters, 123(14), ---.
- Generating maximal entanglement between spectrally distinct solid-state emitters. Physical Review Letters, 123(2). View this article in WRRO
- Optimal Quantum Metrology of Distant Black Bodies. Quantum, 1, 21-21. View this article in WRRO
All publications
Books
- A First Introduction to Quantum Physics. Springer International Publishing.
- A First Introduction to Quantum Physics. Springer International Publishing.
- Introduction to Optical Quantum Information Processing.. Cambridge University Press.
- Scalable Quantum Computers. Wiley.
Journal articles
- Purcell-enhanced, directional light–matter interaction in a waveguide-coupled nanocavity. Optica, 12(7), 1100-1108. View this article in WRRO
- Large-baseline quantum telescopes assisted by partially distinguishable photons. Physical Review A, 111(4). View this article in WRRO
- Efficient, high-fidelity single-photon switch based on waveguide-coupled cavities. Physical Review A, 110(4). View this article in WRRO
- Spin-augmented observables for efficient photonic quantum error correction. Physical Review A, 108(4). View this article in WRRO
- Error-tolerant oblivious transfer in the noisy-storage model. Physical Review Research, 5(3). View this article in WRRO
- Bayesian estimation for Bell state rotations. AVS Quantum Science, 5(2). View this article in WRRO
- Large baseline optical imaging assisted by single photons and linear quantum optics. Physical Review Letters, 130(16).
- Calculating concentratable entanglement in graph states. Physical Review A, 106(4).
- Optical quantum super-resolution imaging and hypothesis testing. Nature Communications, 13(1).
- A quantitative comparison of amplitude versus intensity interferometry for astronomy. New Journal of Physics, 24(4).
- Quantum-limited estimation of range and velocity. PRX Quantum, 2(3).
- Fault-tolerant quantum data locking. Physical Review A, 103(5).
- Photonic quantum data locking. Quantum, 5.
- Photonic quantum data locking. Quantum, 5.
- Tight bounds on the simultaneous estimation of incompatible parameters. Physical Review X, 11(1).
- Quantum Limits to Incoherent Imaging are Achieved by Linear Interferometry. Physical Review Letters, 124(8), ---.
- Geometric perspective on quantum parameter estimation. AVS Quantum Science, 2(1).
- Ancilla-assisted schemes are beneficial for Gaussian state phase estimation. Physical Review A, 101(1), 012124-1-012124-10.
- Optimal Imaging of Remote Bodies Using Quantum Detectors. Physical Review Letters, 123(14), ---.
- Generating maximal entanglement between spectrally distinct solid-state emitters. Physical Review Letters, 123(2). View this article in WRRO
- Statistical analysis of quantum-entangled-network generation. Physical Review A, 99. View this article in WRRO
- Nonreciprocal transmission and reflection of a chirally coupled quantum dot. Nano Letters, 18(9), 5475-5481. View this article in WRRO
- Analysis of quantum information processors using quantum metrology. Physical Review A, 97(6). View this article in WRRO
- Electrical control of nonlinear quantum optics in a nano-photonic waveguide. Optica, 5(5), 644-650. View this article in WRRO
- Extended analysis of the Trojan-horse attack in quantum key distribution. Physical Review A, 97(4). View this article in WRRO
- Analytic few-photon scattering in waveguide QED. Physical Review A, 97(4). View this article in WRRO
- Optimal Quantum Metrology of Distant Black Bodies. Quantum, 1, 21-21. View this article in WRRO
- Quantum metrology of spatial deformation using arrays of classical and quantum light emitters. Physical Review A, 95(6).
- Practical repeaters for ultralong-distance quantum communication. Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 95.
- Role of entanglement in calibrating optical quantum gyroscopes. Physical Review A, 95(1). View this article in WRRO
- Modal decomposition of a propagating matter wave via electron ptychography. Physical Review A, 94. View this article in WRRO
- Local versus global strategies in multiparameter estimation. Physical Review A, 94.
- Effect of component variations on the gate fidelity in linear optical networks. Physical Review A, 94(2). View this article in WRRO
- Photonic quantum information processing. Contemporary Physics, 57(4), 526-544. View this article in WRRO
- Chirality of nanophotonic waveguide with embedded quantum emitter for unidirectional spin transfer. Nature Communications , 7. View this article in WRRO
- Towards universal quantum computation through relativistic motion. Scientific Reports, 6.
- Precision estimation of source dimensions from higher-order intensity correlations. Physical Review A, 92. View this article in WRRO
- A new introductory quantum mechanics curriculum. European Journal of Physics, 35(1).
- Parameter estimation using NOON states over a relativistic quantum channel. Physical Review A Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, 88(5).
- Cluster state generation with ageing qubits. Pacific Rim Conference on Lasers and Electro Optics CLEO Technical Digest.
- Cluster-state generation with aging qubits. Physical Review A Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, 88(1).
- Quantum optical information networks. Optics InfoBase Conference Papers.
- Superresolving multiphoton interferences with independent light sources. Physical Review Letters, 109(23).
- Fundamental limits of classical and quantum imaging.. Phys Rev Lett, 109(12), 123601.
- Ultimate limits to quantum metrology and the meaning of the Heisenberg limit. Physical Review A Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, 85(4).
- Information gap for classical and quantum communication in a Schwarzschild spacetime. Physical Review A Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, 85(4).
- Beating the classical resolution limit via multi-photon interferences of independent light sources. Optics InfoBase Conference Papers.
- Creating large NOON states with imperfect phase control. OPT SPECTROSC+, 111(4), 520-522.
- Quantum computers: Definition and implementations. Physical Review A Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, 83(1).
- APPLICATIONS OF ATOMIC ENSEMBLES IN DISTRIBUTED QUANTUM COMPUTING. INT J QUANTUM INF, 8(1-2), 181-218.
- General Optimality of the Heisenberg Limit for Quantum Metrology. PHYS REV LETT, 105(18).
- Unifying parameter estimation and the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm for continuous variables. PHYS REV A, 82(4).
- Geometric derivation of the quantum speed limit. PHYS REV A, 82(2).
- QUANTUM OPTICS Entangled photons report for duty. NAT PHOTONICS, 4(8), 504-505.
- Five Lectures on Optical Quantum Computing, 187-219.
- High-efficiency cluster-state generation with atomic ensembles via the dipole-blockade mechanism. PHYS REV A, 79(2).
- Quantum computing using isolated qubits. The European Physical Journal Special Topics, 159(1), 85-91.
- Effects of self-phase-modulation on weak nonlinear optical quantum gates. PHYS REV A, 77(1).
- Principles of quantum computation and information volume II. Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical, 40(40), 12256-12258.
- RELATIVISTIC QUANTUM INFORMATION PROCESSING WITH BOSONIC AND FERMIONIC INTERFEROMETERS. International Journal of Quantum Information, 04(01), 119-130.
- Qubits in the pink. Nature, 444(7115), 49-49.
- Quantum lithography: A non-computing application of quantum information. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 6(12), 73-82.
- Quantum lithography: A non-computing application of quantum information.. Inform. Forsch. Entwickl., 21, 73-82.
- An introduction to quantum information processing: applications and realizations. Contemporary Physics, 46(6), 407-436.
- Preparing multi-partite entanglement of photons and matter qubits. Journal of Optics B: Quantum and Semiclassical Optics, 7(7), S166-S170.
- Efficient optical quantum information processing. Journal of Optics B: Quantum and Semiclassical Optics, 7(7), S135-S140.
- Communicating continuous quantum variables between different lorentz frames.. Quantum Inf. Comput., 5, 239-246.
- Quantum information and computation web-corner.. Quantum Inf. Comput., 5, 272-272.
- Quantum information and computation web-corner.. Quantum Inf. Comput., 4, 161-163.
- Limitations on building single-photon-resolution detection devices. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 9(6), 1498-1501.
- Heralded two-photon entanglement from probabilistic quantum logic operations on multiple parametric down-conversion sources. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 9(6), 1478-1482.
- Quantum information and computation web-corner.. Quantum Inf. Comput., 3, 280-280.
- Suitability versus fidelity for rating single-photon guns. Physical Review A Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, 67(3), 032306/4.
- Construction of a quantum repeater with linear optics. Physical Review A Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, 68(2), 223011-223015.
- Conditional linear-optical measurement schemes generate effective photon nonlinearities. Physical Review A Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, 68(4 A), 042314/11.
- Quantum Lithography. Optics and Photonics News, 13(9), 24-24.
- Quantum information and computation web-corner.. Quantum Inf. Comput., 2, 255-256.
- Linear optics and projective measurements along suffice to create large-photon-number path entanglement. Physical Review A Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, 65(3 A), 030101/4.
- Quantum information and computation web-corner.. Quantum Inf. Comput., 2, 179-180.
- Creation of large-photon-number path entanglement conditioned on photodetection. Physical Review A Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, 65(5 A), 521041-521045.
- Single-photon quantum-nondemolition detectors constructed with linear optics and projective measurements. Physical Review A Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, 66(6), 638141-638149.
- Quantum information and computation web-corner.. Quantum Inf. Comput., 2, 596-598.
- Quantum information and computation web-corner.. Quantum Inf. Comput., 1, 91-92.
- Long-distance quantum communication just around the corner?. Quantum Inf. Comput., 1, 87-88.
- Multi-dimensional Hermite polynomials in quantum optics. Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General, 34(31), 6185-6195.
- Webcorner.. Quantum Inf. Comput., 1, 94-96.
- Quantum-interferometric optical lithography: Towards arbitrary two-dimensional patterns. Physical Review A Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, 63(6), 063407/8.
- Entanglement Swapping as Event-Ready Entanglement Preparation. Fortschritte der Physik, 48(5-7), 553-557.
- Postselected versus nonpostselected quantum teleportation using parametric down-conversion. Physical Review A Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, 61(4), 423041-4230410.
- Unitary evolution and the distinguishability of quantum states. Physical Review A, 90(6).
- Erratum: General Optimality of the Heisenberg Limit for Quantum Metrology [Phys. Rev. Lett.105, 180402 (2010)]. Physical Review Letters, 107(5).
- Publisher’s Note: Quantum computers: Definition and implementations [Phys. Rev. A83, 012303 (2011)]. Physical Review A, 83(2).
- Efficient growth of complex graph states via imperfect path erasure. New Journal of Physics, 9(6), 196-196.
- Publisher's Note: Linear optical quantum computing with photonic qubits [Rev. Mod. Phys. 79, 135 (2007)]. Reviews of Modern Physics, 79(2), 797-797.
- Adaptive strategies for graph-state growth in the presence of monitored errors. Physical Review A, 75(4).
- Linear optical quantum computing with photonic qubits. Reviews of Modern Physics, 79(1), 135-174.
- Feed-forward and its role in conditional linear optical quantum dynamics. Physical Review A, 73(3).
- Repeat-until-success quantum computing using stationary and flying qubits. Physical Review A, 73(1).
- Comment on “Measuring a Photonic Qubit without Destroying It”. Physical Review Letters, 95(4).
- Efficient high-fidelity quantum computation using matter qubits and linear optics. Physical Review A, 71(6).
- Symmetry analyzer for nondestructive Bell-state detection using weak nonlinearities. Physical Review A, 71(6).
- All Linear Optical Quantum Memory Based on Quantum Error Correction. Physical Review Letters, 91(21).
- Gravitational decoherence. Physical Review D, 68(8).
- Conditional linear-optical measurement schemes generate effective photon nonlinearities. Physical Review A, 68(4).
- Construction of a quantum repeater with linear optics. Physical Review A, 68(2).
- Suitability versus fidelity for rating single-photon guns. Physical Review A, 67(3).
- Single-photon quantum-nondemolition detectors constructed with linear optics and projective measurements. Physical Review A, 66(6).
- Creation of large-photon-number path entanglement conditioned on photodetection. Physical Review A, 65(5).
- Linear optics and projective measurements alone suffice to create large-photon-number path entanglement. Physical Review A, 65(3).
- Quantum-interferometric optical lithography: Towards arbitrary two-dimensional patterns. Physical Review A, 63(6).
- Detection devices in entanglement-based optical state preparation. Physical Review A, 63(3).
- Limitations on the creation of maximal entanglement. Physical Review A, 62(6).
- Quantum Interferometric Optical Lithography: Exploiting Entanglement to Beat the Diffraction Limit. Physical Review Letters, 85(13), 2733-2736.
- Postselected versus nonpostselected quantum teleportation using parametric down-conversion. Physical Review A, 61(4).
Conference proceedings
- Quantum super-resolution imaging and hypothesis testing. Photonics for Quantum 2023, Vol. 12633. Rochester, New York, United States, 5 June 2023 - 5 June 2023. View this article in WRRO
- Sub-wavelength quantum imaging. Optical and Quantum Sensing and Precision Metrology (pp 73-73), 6 March 2021 - 12 March 2021.
- Optimal imaging of remote bodies using quantum detectors. Frontiers in Optics / Laser Science, Vol. 6. Washington, DC United States, 14 September 2020 - 14 September 2020. View this article in WRRO
- The quantum limit to incoherent imaging is achieved by linear interferometry. 24th Imeko Tc4 International Symposium and 22nd International Workshop on ADC and DAC Modelling and Testing (pp 239-243)
- Generating Maximal Entanglement between Spectrally Distinct Solid-State Emitters. 2019 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC) (pp 1-1), 23 June 2019 - 27 June 2019.
- Practical repeaters for ultra-long distance quantum communication. Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 10118. San Francisco, California View this article in WRRO
- Beating the classical resolution limit via multi-photon interferences of independent light sources. Research in Optical Sciences (pp QM3B.6-QM3B.6), 2012.
- Quantum interferometric sensors. SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 6603 (pp 660316-660316)
- Optical quantum information processing utilizing weak nonlinearities: a little goes a long way. SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 5893 (pp 58930I-58930I)
- Classical and quantum information processing with EIT. SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 5735 (pp 143-143)
- Towards photostatistics from photon-number discriminating detectors. Journal of Modern Optics, Vol. 51(9-10) (pp 1517-1528)
- From linear optical quantum computing to Heisenberg-limited interferometry. Journal of Optics B: Quantum and Semiclassical Optics, Vol. 6(8) (pp S796-S800)
- Quantum lithography, entanglement and Heisenberg-limited parameter estimation. Journal of Optics B: Quantum and Semiclassical Optics, Vol. 6(8) (pp S811-S815)
- Quantum interferometric sensors. SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 5359 (pp 169-169)
- Quantum lithography. SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 5111 (pp 268-268)
- Linear optics with projective measurements for fun and profit. SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 5115 (pp 298-298)
- Suitability vs. Fidelity: toward better measures of goodness for single-photon guns. Optics Infobase Conference Papers
- Limitations on Building Single-photon-resolution Detection Devices. Optics Infobase Conference Papers
- Number-Resolving Photon and Non-Photon Detectors. Optics Infobase Conference Papers
- Linear Optical Quantum Memory. Optics Infobase Conference Papers
- A quantum Rosetta stone for interferometry. Journal of Modern Optics, Vol. 49(14-15) (pp 2325-2338)
Preprints
- Purcell-Enhanced, Directional Light-Matter Interaction in a Waveguide-Coupled Nanocavity, arXiv.
- Efficient, High-Fidelity Single-Photon Switch Based on Waveguide-Coupled Cavities, arXiv.
- Spin-augmented observables for efficient photonic quantum error correction, arXiv.
- Cumulative generation of maximal entanglement between spectrally distinct qubits using squeezed light, arXiv.
- Tight bounds on the simultaneous estimation of incompatible parameters, arXiv.
- Non-Reciprocal Transmission and Reflection of a Chirally-Coupled Quantum Dot, arXiv.
- Electrical control of nonlinear quantum optics in a nano-photonic waveguide, arXiv.
- Modal decomposition of a propagating matter wave via electron ptychography, arXiv.
- Chirality of nanophotonic waveguide with embedded quantum emitter for unidirectional spin transfer, arXiv.
- Fundamental Limits of Classical and Quantum Imaging.
- Ultimate limits to quantum metrology and the meaning of the Heisenberg
limit.
- Information gap for classical and quantum communication in a Schwarzschild spacetime, arXiv.
- Unifying parameter estimation and the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm for
continuous variables.
- General optimality of the Heisenberg limit for quantum metrology.
- Optimality of the Heisenberg limit for continuous-variable quantum
metrology.
- What is a quantum computer, and how do we build one?.
- Quantum Limits to Incoherent Imaging are Achieved by Linear Interferometry. Physical Review Letters, 124(8), ---.
- Grants
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- Large Baseline Quantum-Enhanced Imaging Networks, EPSRC £441k (2021-2024, PI)
- Quantum and Many Body Physics Enabled by Advanced Semiconductor Nanotechnology, EPSRC £7.7M (2021-2026, Co-I)
- Quantum communications Hub, EPSRC £400k (2019-2024, PI)
- Semiconductor Quantum Photonics, EPSRC £5.6M (2016-2021, CoI)
- Quantum Communication, EPSRC QT Hub, £500K (2015-2019, PI)
- Semiconductor Integrated Quantum Optical Circuits , EPSRC £5M (20012-2017, Co-I)
- Teaching activities
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Undergraduate taught modules (current)
- PHY11006 Mechanics
- PHY128 Classical and Quantum Optics
- PHY21004 Subatomic Physics & Relativity
- Professional activities and memberships
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- Deputy Head of Department (Sep 2022-present)
- Associate Editor for the AIP journal AVS Quantum Science, (2019–present)
- Chair EPSRC Prioritisation Panel for Quantum Technologies (January 2022)
- Member of the Editorial Board of Physical Review A
- External examiner for Physics at Loughborough University (2014-present)
Public engagement