(IndiaEducationDiary) Understanding of the universe could be transformed thanks to major UK investment in quantum technologies including £2m for Lancaster University.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is supporting two collaborative projects involving Lancaster to investigate key questions such as the nature of dark matter and how the early Universe evolved.
The £2m award is part of the National Quantum Technologies Programme which aims to make the UK a global leader in the development and commercialisation of quantum technologies.
QSHS is led by Sheffield with Lancaster, Cambridge, Liverpool and Oxford, the National Physical Laboratory, Royal Holloway University of London and UCL.
The project aims to contribute to the search for axions, low-mass ‘hidden’ particles, which may help solve the mystery of dark matter. The team will develop ultra-low-noise quantum electronics to underpin the search for these hitherto undetected particles. Dark matter is a component of the universe whose gravitational attraction can be observed, but which is not visible in our telescopes. Despite the fact that it constitutes approximately 80% of the mass of our galaxy, it has never been detected directly.
Professor Dame Lynn Gladden, Executive Chair of the EPSRC and UKRI sponsor for Quantum Technologies, said: “This is a hugely exciting programme and we look forward to delivering these projects and funding further work in this area as well as exploring opportunities for exploiting quantum technologies with other UKRI partners.”
£2M Award for Quantum Technologies to Solve the Mysteries of the Universe
