
Overview
Background
Professor Bowen is Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology, and leads the Quantum Optics Laboratory at UQ. He is recognised both nationally and internationally for research at the interface of quantum science and nanotechnology; including bioimaging, biotechnology, nanophotonics, nanomechanics, quantum optomechanics and photonic/quantum sensing. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics.
Professor Bowen's research spans from the very fundamental, e.g. how does quantum physics transition into our everyday world at large scales?, to applied, e.g. developing next generation sensors for medical diagnostics and navigation. To pursue this research, his lab works in close partnership with industry and uses state-of-the-art facilities for nanofabrication, nanoanalysis, precision optical measurement and deep cryogenic refrigeration available in-house or on campus at UQ.
Professor Bowen has supervised more than thirty postgraduate students, who have been recognised with prizes such as Fulbright Scholarships, an Australian Youth Science Ambassadorship, a Springer PhD theses prize, the Queensland nomination for the Australian Institute of Physics Bragg Medal, the Australian Optical Society Postgraduate Student Prize and UQ Graduate of the Year. He regularly has projects available, both for postgraduate students and for postdoctoral researchers. Please check his website, above, or contact him directly for details (w.bowen@uq.edu.au).
Availability
- Professor Warwick Bowen is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University
Research interests
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Quantum biotechnology
Prof Bowen works on the applications of quantum technologies in the life sciences and biotechnology: quantum-enabled medical imaging systems and medical diagnostics, better tools for the development of drugs and proteomics, and better methods to see biological structures and dynamics in cells and proteins. His laboratory has developed the first quantum-enhanced light microscopes to better image cells, and new proteomic tools to observe the dynamics of proteins at unprecedented speed. They are developing new magnetic sensing technology to detect biomagnetic fields from the brain, heart and muscle.
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Quantum measurement and control
Prof Bowen works on furthering our understanding of measurements at the quantum level, and how these measurements can be used to control quantum devices. His interests in quantum measurement range from the very fundamental to applications for quantum technologies. He particularly focuses on quantum optomechanics, studying how light interacts with nanofabicated mechanical devices. Fundamental questions include: how does quantum decoherence occur?, how can quantum mechanics be reconciled with the classical physics at everyday size scales?, and what limits does quantum mechanics place on measurement precision? Quantum technological applications include quantum computing components such as interfaces to map quantum information between light and computing nodes and mechanical quantum memories.
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Quantum and precision sensing
Prof Bowen develops quantum and precision sensing technologies for applications in ares ranging from biomedicine to aerospace, resources and defence. His laboratory have pioneered optomechanical sensing, for instance developing the first optomechanical magnetometers and ultrasound sensors. These sensors have significantly advanced the state-of-the-art in precision silicon-chip based sensing. Prof Bowen's laboratory is working with industry partners to translate the sensors they develop into practical applications such as improved navigation on drones, geological surveying, and through-Earth communications, and to provide new capabilities in biomedical imaging.
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Superfluid physics and devices
Superfluids are a quantum state of matter that exists at very low temperature. They exhibit a macroscopic quantum wave function, and counter-intuitive behaviour such as flow without resistance. Superfluid helium is the only liquid superfluid. Prof Bowen's laboratory has led the applications of nanophotonics (light confined to very small scales on a silicon chip) to understand and control superfluid helium. This has allowed them to demonstrate new capabilities, such as laser cooling of a liquid, and new understanding, such as about the turbulent behaviour of quantum vortices. It also allows them to build liquid quantum technologies, where the quantum nature of superfluid helium promise capabilities far beyond what is possible with other technologies. For instance, accelerometers with millions of times better precision than can otherwise be achieved.
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Nanomechanical computing
Semiconductor computers have been transformational for humanity, offering unprecedented computational power. This has been driven, in large part, by Moore's Law - that the number of transistors that can be packed into an integrated circuit doubles every two years. However, Moore's Law cannot continue indefinitely, and is already reaching its limits. Moreover, the energy consumption of semiconductor computing is now a large fraction of total global energy use. Prof Bowen's laboratory is working to address this challenge, developing alternative computer architectures based on nano mechanical devices: computing using the flow of vibrations rather than electrons. This offers the possibility to reduce energy consumption by a factor of 10,000. It also allows intrinsically radiation hard computing, promising to improve the robustness of the world satellite communications systems to solar flares and other radiation phenomena.
Research impacts
Professor Bowen's laboratory has made important contributions, including demonstrating that quantum techniques can enhance the performance of biological microscopes; developing a new class of state-of-the-art magnetometers that allow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to be miniaturised to chip-scale with prospective applications in medical/chemical diagnostics, geological surveying and other areas; showing that laser cooling techniques can be applied to superfluid helium, an important medium for generation-after-next sensors in navigation; and reaching the quantum limit to performance in single molecule sensors.
Professor Bowen is highly motivated to translate progress in quantum technologies into real-world applications across health, energy, resources, medical diagnostics and other areas. Recently, for example, he led the establishment of the Queensland Quantum Decarbonisation Alliance, a collaboration of 27 partners across academia, government and industry to apply quantum technologies towards reaching net zero.
Works
Search Professor Warwick Bowen’s works on UQ eSpace
2011
Conference Publication
A self-referencing detection technique for whispering gallery mode biosensors
Knittel, Joachim, Swaim, Jon D. and Bowen, Warwick P. (2011). A self-referencing detection technique for whispering gallery mode biosensors. European Quantum Electronics Conference, EQEC 2011, Munich, Germany, 22 - 26 May 2011. Washington, DC, United States: The Optical Society. doi: 10.1109/CLEOE.2011.5943700
2011
Conference Publication
Mechanical regenerative amplification with mHz linewidth in a cavity opto-electromechanical system
Bowen, W. P., Taylor, M. A., Szorkovszky, A., Lee, K. H. and Knittel, J. (2011). Mechanical regenerative amplification with mHz linewidth in a cavity opto-electromechanical system. Frontiers in Optics, FiO 2011, San Jose, CA, United States, 16 - 20 October 2011. Washington, DC, United States: The Optical Society. doi: 10.1364/fio.2011.ftht4
2011
Conference Publication
Optomechanics with electromechanical parametric amplification
Szorkovszky, A., Doherty, A. C., Fairchild, B., Harris, G.,I., Knittel, J., Greentree, A. D. and Bowen, W. P. (2011). Optomechanics with electromechanical parametric amplification. International Quantum Electronics Conference, IQEC 2011 and Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO Pacific Rim 2011, Sydney, NSW Australia, 28 August - 1 September 2011. Piscataway, NJ United States: I E E E. doi: 10.1109/IQEC-CLEO.2011.6194034
2011
Conference Publication
Spatial reshaping of a squeezed state of light
Morizur, Jean-Francois, Jian, Pu, Armstrong, Seiji, Treps, Nicolas, Bowen, Warwick, Janousek, Jiri and Bachor, Hans-A. (2011). Spatial reshaping of a squeezed state of light. 2011 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe and 12th European Quantum Electronics Conference, CLEO EUROPE/EQEC 2011, Munich, Germany, 22 - 26 May 2011. Piscataway, NJ, United States: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/CLEOE.2011.5943362
2011
Conference Publication
Nanoparticle detection and characterization using optical microresonators
Knittel, Joachim, Swaim, Jon D., Brawley, George, Taylor, Michael A. and Bowen, Warwick P. (2011). Nanoparticle detection and characterization using optical microresonators. International Quantum Electronics Conference, IQEC 2011 and Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO Pacific Rim 2011, Sydney, NSW Australia, August 28 - 1 September 2011. Piscataway, NJ United States: I E E E. doi: 10.1109/IQEC-CLEO.2011.6193921
2011
Conference Publication
Near threshold optomechanical backaction amplifier
Bowen, Warwick P. and McRae, Terry G. (2011). Near threshold optomechanical backaction amplifier. Frontiers in Optics, FiO 2011, San Jose, CA, United States, 16 - 20 October 2011. Washington, DC, United States: Optics InfoBase Conference Papers. doi: 10.1364/FIO.2011.FMD1
2010
Journal Article
Laser locking and cavity manipulation with a cavity optoelectromechanical system
Lee, Kwan H., McRae,Terry G., Knittel, Joachim and Bowen, Warwick P. (2010). Laser locking and cavity manipulation with a cavity optoelectromechanical system. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 22 (24) 5597927, 1784-1786. doi: 10.1109/LPT.2010.2085079
2010
Journal Article
Optical pattern recognition via adaptive spatial homodyne detection
Hsu, Magnus T. L., Knittel, Joachim, Morizur, Jean-Francois, Bachor, Hans-A. and Bowen, Warwick P. (2010). Optical pattern recognition via adaptive spatial homodyne detection. Journal of the Optical Society of America A, 27 (12), 2583-2587. doi: 10.1364/JOSAA.27.002583
2010
Journal Article
Programmable unitary spatial mode manipulation
Morizur, JF, Nicholls, L, Jian, P, Armstrong, S, Treps, N, Hage, B, Hsu, M, Bowen, W, Janousek, J and Bachor, HA (2010). Programmable unitary spatial mode manipulation. Optical Society of America. Journal A: Optics, Image Science, and Vision, 27 (11), 2524-2531. doi: 10.1364/JOSAA.27.002524
2010
Journal Article
Interferometric detection of mode splitting for whispering gallery mode biosensors
Knittel, Joachim, McRae, Terry G., Lee, Kwan H. and Bowen, Warwick P. (2010). Interferometric detection of mode splitting for whispering gallery mode biosensors. Applied Physics Letters, 97 (12) 123704, 123704 - 1-123704 - 3. doi: 10.1063/1.3494530
2010
Journal Article
Cavity optoelectromechanical system combining strong electrical actuation with ultrasensitive transduction
McRae, Terry G., Lee, Kwan H., Harris, Glen I., Knittel, Joachim and Bowen, Warwick P. (2010). Cavity optoelectromechanical system combining strong electrical actuation with ultrasensitive transduction. Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics), 82 (2) 023825, 023825.1-023825.7. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.82.023825
2010
Journal Article
Cooling and control of a cavity optoelectromechanical system
Lee, KH, McRae, TG, Harris, GI, Knittel, J and Bowen, WP (2010). Cooling and control of a cavity optoelectromechanical system. Physical Review Letters, 104 (12) 123604, 123604-1-123604-4. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.123604
2010
Book Chapter
Fundamentals and applications of quantum limited optical imaging
Warwick, P., Hsu, Magnus T.L. and Wei, Jian (2010). Fundamentals and applications of quantum limited optical imaging. Advances in lasers and electro optics. (pp. 633-354) edited by Nelson Costa and Adolfo Cartaxo. London, United Kingdom: IntechOpen. doi: 10.5772/8674
2010
Conference Publication
Experimental demonstration of computer reconfigurable multimode entanglement
Morizur, Jean-Francois, Nicholls, Lachlan, Jian, Pu, Armstorng, Seiji, Wagner, Kate, Hsu, Magnus, Bowen, Warwick, Treps, Nicolas, Janousek, Jiri and Bachor, Hans-A. (2010). Experimental demonstration of computer reconfigurable multimode entanglement. Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO)/Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference (QELS), San Jose, United States, 16-21 May 2010. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1364/qels.2010.qthj3
2009
Journal Article
Quantum limited particle sensing in optical tweezers
Tay, Jian Wei, Hsu, Magnus T. L. and Bowen, Warwick P. (2009). Quantum limited particle sensing in optical tweezers. Physical Review A, 80 (6) 063806, 063806-1-063806-9. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.80.063806
2009
Conference Publication
Asynchronous entanglement from coherently coupled nonlinear cavities
McRae, G. Terry and Bowen, P. Warwick (2009). Asynchronous entanglement from coherently coupled nonlinear cavities. CLEO/Europe - EQEC 2009 - European Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics and the European Quantum Electronics Conference, , , June 14, 2009-June 19, 2009. Optical Society of America. doi: 10.1109/CLEOE-EQEC.2009.5191614
2009
Journal Article
Thermo-optic locking of a semiconductor laser to a microcavity resonance
McRae, T. G., Lee, Kwan H., McGovern, M., Gwyther, D. and Bowen, W. P. (2009). Thermo-optic locking of a semiconductor laser to a microcavity resonance. Optics Express, 17 (24), 21977-21985. doi: 10.1364/OE.17.021977
2009
Other Outputs
Opto-electro-mechanical device
Lee, K. H. and Bowen, W. P. (2009). Opto-electro-mechanical device. 2009904789.
2009
Journal Article
Colloquium: The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox: From concepts to applications
Reid, M. D., Drummond, P. D., Bowen, W. P., Cavalcanti, E. G., Lam, P. K., Bachor, H. A., Andersen, U. L. and Leuchs, G. (2009). Colloquium: The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox: From concepts to applications. Reviews of Modern Physics, 81 (4), 1727-1751. doi: 10.1103/RevModPhys.81.1727
2009
Journal Article
Time-delayed entanglement from coherently coupled nonlinear cavities
McRae, Terry G. and Bowen, Warwick P. (2009). Time-delayed entanglement from coherently coupled nonlinear cavities. Physical Review A, 80 (1) 010303, 010303-1-010303-4. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.80.010303
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Warwick Bowen is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Projects in quantum microscopy, nanoscience, optomechanics and precision sensing
Professor Bowen regularly has projects available. Please check his website, above, or contact him directly for details (w.bowen@uq.edu.au).
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Quantum biotechnology
Professor Bowen has PhD opportunities in quantum biotechnology in areas including:
- Quantum light microscopes to observe biological structures that are invisible to the best existing microscopes
- Quantum proteomics to fingerprint proteins at the single molecule level and understand enzyme dynamics
- Quantum and precision medical imaging technologies to measure biological magnetic fields from the brain and heart
- Precision microscopes that exploit technologies from gravitational wave detection for cell based assays
Please contact him directly for details (w.bowen@uq.edu.au).
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Liquid quantum technologies
Professor Bowen has a range of PhD opportunities in the fundamentals and applications of superfluid helium, the only naturally occuring quantum liquid. This includes, fundamental understanding of quantum turbulence, quantum devices based on the flow of superfluid helium on a silicon chip, and applications of superfluid devices to understand classical tubulence in the ocean and atmosphere.
Please contact him directly for details (w.bowen@uq.edu.au).
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Quantum and precision sensing
Professor Bowen has several PhD opportunities in optomechanical sensing technolologies that exploit the physics of kilometer-scale gravitational wave detectors, miniaturised to chip-scale, to achieve extreme precision. These projects range from magnetic, acoustic and inertial sensor technology development, to applications in resources, defence, aerospace, navigation and biomedical imaging, often in partnership with industry.
Please contact him directly for details (w.bowen@uq.edu.au).
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Quantum measurement and control
Professor Bowen has PhD opportunities in the foundations of quantum measurement and control, as well as in the applications of these methods in quantum computing and foundations. These projects generally combine both experiment and theory, developing the theory of applications of quantum measurement and control. and exploiting nanoscale devices fabricated on a silicon chip to demonstrate them. Ulitimately, this research aspires to enable new tests of the interface of quantum and classical physics, and to enable quantum interfaces and memories for large-scale quantum computers.
Please contact him directly for details (w.bowen@uq.edu.au).
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Nanomechanical computing
Professor Bowen has PhD opportunities in the development of alternative computing architectures based on mechanical vibrations in nanofabricated devcies on a silicon chip. These devices promise to address the energy problem in computing, reducing energy consumption by many orders of magnitude. They also promise to enable more robust computing in radiation-harsh environments such as Earth orbit.
Please contact him directly for details (w.bowen@uq.edu.au).
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Low frequency magnetic field sensing using cavity optomechanical magnetometers
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Benjamin Carey
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Doctor Philosophy
Laser control of quantum vortices
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Baker
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Doctor Philosophy
Building quantum devices out of superfluid helium
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Baker
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Doctor Philosophy
Low frequency magnetic field sensing using cavity optomechanical magnetometers
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Benjamin Carey
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Doctor Philosophy
Advanced Optomechanical Acoustic Sensing
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nathaniel Bawden, Dr Benjamin Carey
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Doctor Philosophy
Molecular optomechanics for single molecule fingerprinting
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Allison Fish, Mr Igor Marinkovic
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Doctor Philosophy
Probing biological dynamics with ultrafast viscosity measurement
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicolas Mauranyapin
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Doctor Philosophy
Towards Nonlinear Superfluid Hydrodynamics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Baker
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Doctor Philosophy
Quantum single molecule sensing
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicolas Mauranyapin
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Doctor Philosophy
Cascaded Nanomechanical Logic
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicolas Mauranyapin, Dr Christopher Baker, Dr Nishta Arora
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Doctor Philosophy
Precision inertial sensors for mining applications
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nathaniel Bawden
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Doctor Philosophy
Quantum acoustodynamics for quantum technologies and fundamental science
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Benjamin Carey
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding biological viscity using quantum-limited and quantum enhanced sensors
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicolas Mauranyapin, Dr Pavlina Naydenova
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Doctor Philosophy
Deep-learning enhanced quantum microscopy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicolas Mauranyapin
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Doctor Philosophy
Integrated optomechanical magnetometer for through-earth wireless communication.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Benjamin Carey
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Doctor Philosophy
Scalable and reversible computing with integrated nanomechanics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicolas Mauranyapin, Dr Christopher Baker
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Doctor Philosophy
Scalable and reversible computing with integrated nanomechanics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicolas Mauranyapin, Dr Christopher Baker
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Doctor Philosophy
Optomechanical monitoring of quantum Brownian motion and the challenge of Heisenberg
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Engineering phonons to improve superconducting quantum computing
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Arkady Fedorov
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Doctor Philosophy
Quantum imaging of molecules and tissues
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicolas Mauranyapin
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Doctor Philosophy
Photonic readout & control of superfluid helium films
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Baker
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Doctor Philosophy
Photonic readout & control of superfluid helium films
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Baker
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Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Low frequency magnetic field sensing using cavity optomechanical magnetometers
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Benjamin Carey
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Integrated optomechanical magnetometer for through-earth wireless communication.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Benjamin Carey
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Optomechanical monitoring of quantum Brownian motion and the challenge of Heisenberg
Principal Advisor
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Sensing and imaging molecules beneath the diffraction limit
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lars Madsen, Dr Nicolas Mauranyapin
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Nonlinear microscopy with squeezed light
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicolas Mauranyapin
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Dissipation Engineered Crystalline Nanomechanical Resonators
Principal Advisor
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Optomechanical state preparation via strong measurement
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Baker
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Catching waves: Superfluid and light on a silicon chip
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Baker
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Probing Quantum Macroscopicity with Cavity Optomechanics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Baker
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Integrated cavity opto-electromechanics: Electrical tuning and control of optomechanical systems
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Baker
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Micro-resonator Optomechanics with Superfluid Helium
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Baker
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Probing two-dimensional quantum fluids with cavity optomechanics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Baker
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Phononics: Engineering and control of acoustic fields on a chip
Principal Advisor
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Biosensing at the quantum noise limit
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lars Madsen
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Quantum optomechanics in the unresolved sideband regime
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lars Madsen, Professor Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Quantum Measurement and Control of a Mechanical Parametric Oscillator
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tom Stace
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Gravity as a classical information channel: Consequences and proposals towards detecting wave function collapse
Associate Advisor
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2014
Master Philosophy
Investigation of All-fibre Methane Sensors for Underground Coal Mines
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati, Associate Professor Mehmet Kizil
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Development of a Sequential Multipoint Fibre Optic Methane Measurement System for Coal Mines
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Mehmet Kizil, Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Warwick Bowen directly for media enquiries about:
- quantum biotechnologies
- quantum computing
- quantum for navigation
- quantum imaging and microscopy
- quantum in health
- quantum in sport
- quantum industry
- quantum innovation
- quantum medical technologies
- quantum sensing
- quantum technologies
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