Led by the University of York, the Quantum Communications Hub (http://www.quantumcommshub.net) is a partnership of eight universities and numerous private sector companies. The overall aim of the Hub is to develop a range of new, secure, quantum communications technologies. A PhD studentship, supported by EPSRC funding through York, is available to work on high-rate quantum communications, based at the Department of Computer Science, University of York.

Quantum information is gradually moving towards practical implementations: This is the new field of quantum technologies, a broad area where quantum communications and, in particular, quantum cryptography are progressing the most. Prototypes of secure quantum networks are currently being built and the basic elements of a future quantum Internet are being advanced at a promising pace.

This PhD studentship is aimed at exploring the ultimate limits of quantum communications and quantum cryptography with or without the use of quantum repeaters, which may be trusted or untrusted. Research will be focused on determining the secret key capacity of some of the most relevant quantum channels as well as designing practical high-rate protocols that are able to approximate such ultimate performances. The work may also involve the analysis and numerical simulation of a high-rate secure quantum network. Background in quantum information and/or quantum optics is advised.

Email to Dr Stefano Pirandola (stefano.pirandola@york.ac.uk) for further information.