Integrated semiconductor quantum dots are ideal for building on-demand sources that can be used to create coherent, multi-node quantum networks. These networks can bridge the gap between laboratory experiments and real-world fibre infrastructure. We are interested in answering the following questions:

• How can epitaxial semiconductor quantum dots be deterministically integrated into complex photonic structures to maximize light-matter interaction?
• What architectural designs allow multiple quantum dots to interact coherently via a photonic channel?
• How can these systems be scaled for deployment over existing telecommunications networks?

Our focus is on embedding deterministic, nearly identical semiconductor quantum dots into photonic structures, such as integrated waveguides. Using local tuning techniques, we work to tune individual emitters into resonance to study their interaction. This work benefits the development of quantum repeaters and photon sources on live fiber networks, such as the Niedersachsen quantum link between Hanover and Braunschweig.
 

Colloidal quantum dots and perovskite nanocrystals are a versatile and cost-effective alternative to epitaxial systems. They have unique potential for room-temperature operation and cooperative quantum phenomena. The questions that drive our interest are:

• Which nanophotonic environments can enhance the brightness and emission rate of single photons from colloidal quantum dots?
• Can we leverage collective effects to create new regimes of light-matter interaction at elevated temperatures?
• How can we achieve the deterministic placement of random colloidal emitters into photonic micro- and nanostructures?

This strand of research explores the optical properties of colloidal quantum dots across cryogenic and room temperature ranges. We combine advanced low-temperature spectroscopy with cutting-edge integration strategies to precisely position emitters within the mode volumes of plasmonic microcavities, for example. Our aim is to develop scalable platforms that enable colloidal quantum dot systems to be coupled with various photonic systems for potential applications in quantum communication and sensing.

Standardizing experimental control and integrating intelligent systems are essential for overcoming the complexity bottleneck and enabling the autonomous optimization necessary for large-scale quantum technologies. This raises the following questions:

• How can we replace the fragmented control stacks of solid-state quantum photonic systems with unified, open-source interfaces that ensure full data provenance?
• Can machine learning be used to optimize complex quantum states autonomously while maintaining rigorous FAIR principles (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable)?
• How can we integrate AI ethically to empower scientists rather than replace the human insight required for experimental breakthroughs?

We are leading the development of PLESTY, an open-source Python library that provides hardware-agnostic control and standardized data logging for experimental science. Our goal is to create a collaborative ecosystem that integrates machine learning for real-time adaptive feedback loops and autonomous optimization. Our vision is of semi-autonomous laboratories that can accelerate next-generation quantum research.