A week full of quantum

Apr 4, 2024

All about quantum physics in Braunschweig on World Quantum Day on April 14

From April 8 to 14, Braunschweig and the region will be focusing on the fascinating world of quanta – from a scientific symposium to a captivating Science Watch Party. The colorful supporting program Quantum Week (https://www.ptb.de/quantum-week) around World Quantum Day on April 14 will take place at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, the Haus der Wissenschaft in Braunschweig and the phaeno Science Center in Wolfsburg.

Our world behaves very differently at the smallest level than we expect based on our everyday experiences – and then quantum physics almost seems like magic. The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), the Quantum Valley Lower Saxony Future Cluster (https://qvls.de/en/), the QuantumFrontiers Cluster of Excellence (https://www.quantumfrontiers.de/en/) and the phaeno Science Center (https://www.phaeno.de/) are jointly inviting you to experience this magic for a week.

The introductory events

We offer three family-friendly events for all those interested, young and old, to join in and do it yourself.

  • On April 9, starting at 7:00 p.m., PTB scientists Fabian Wolf and Daniel Stuhlmacher will give an introduction to their favorite topic: ion traps. Why do you have to trap ions? What do you do with the ions? And what does this have to do with quantum computers, atomic clocks and Einstein’s theory of relativity? After Fabian Wolf’s lecture “Who catches the ions in Braunschweig” in the Braunschweig co-working space TrafoHub(https://trafohub.de/), you can slip into the role of a researcher yourself and experiment on the Paul trap or explore the PTB’s ion trap laboratory with VR glasses.
  • On April 14, World Quantum Day, the Science Watch Party “Physics in Hollywood” of the Cluster of Excellence QuantumFrontiers will take place at TU Braunschweig from 18:00. Anyone who has ever seen a YouTube video with a title like “Physicist explains famous movie scenes” will be familiar with the format: at this entertaining event for children from grade 5 upwards, physicist Sascha Vogel from the science birds and PTB scientist Teresa Tschirner discuss famous film sequences with the audience. But don’t worry – this is not about formulas and natural constants, but about having fun with science.
  • On April 14, it is also worth taking a trip to World Quantum Day at the phaeno Science Center in Wolfsburg (World Quantum Day – phaeno). To celebrate the day, visitors can explore new exhibits in the quantum exhibition: The interactive artwork Quantum Jungle offers the opportunity to playfully experience the properties of the quantum world. In addition, a variable nitrogen and dye laser will be presented as an exhibit for the first time. The Meet the Scientist event starts at 11 a.m.: PTB scientists Daniel Stuhlmacher and Alexandros Metavitsiadis will give visitors to the exhibition the opportunity to experience a virtual tour of a quantum technology laboratory using VR glasses.

Further highlights from the program

  • The “Women in Quantum Technologies” exchange evening organized by the Quantum Valley Lower Saxony future cluster is aimed specifically at female students and budding quantum researchers on April 11 from 5 p.m. at the Haus der Wissenschaft. In a relaxed round of talks, women who work with quantum technologies will talk about their careers and their own experiences. The panel will include female researchers from start-ups, research institutes and research coordination.
  • Quantum technology on a long journey: Just in time for World Quantum Day, a quantum emitter is also going on a big QuanTour through Europe. The QuanTour kick-off event of the German Physical Societies will take place at PTB Berlin on April 14 from 4 p.m. and will be broadcast via livestream. During the QuanTour, a specially manufactured quantum light source will be sent across Europe: Within twelve months, it will be a guest in twelve laboratories in twelve different cities.
  • At the symposium of PTB’s Quantum Technology Competence Center on April 8, PTB researchers and invited guests will discuss the topic “Metrology for the emerging quantum communication industry”

Opening ceremony of the new quantum high-tech incubator

This week, we are also celebrating the opening of Lower Saxony’s new location for quantum technologies: On April 10, 2024, the HighTech Incubator of Quantum Valley Lower Saxony (QVLS-HTI) will take off in the former Rolleiwerke Braunschweig. On around 500 square meters of office and laboratory space, eleven start-ups, excellent research institutions and, in future, established companies will come together to exchange ideas. The QVLS-HTI builds on a long industrial tradition in the former Rollei factories: Where world-famous cameras rolled off the production line almost 100 years ago, young talents such as the Braunschweig spin-off QUDORA are now working on the chip of the Lower Saxony quantum computer.

Read more

Programme: ptb.de/quantum-week

Contact:

Rebecca Husemann, rebecca.husemann@ptb.de, fon +49 531 592-9455