Cirac group (MPQ Munich)
- Institution
- Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (MPQ)
- Lab / Centre
- Theory Division
- Location
- Garching (Munich), Germany
Theoretical-quantum-information group at MPQ. Cirac co-originated the DLCZ protocol for atomic-ensemble quantum repeaters (Duan-Lukin-Cirac-Zoller, Nature 2001), the foundational ion-trap quantum-computer proposal (Cirac-Zoller, PRL 1995), and tensor-network methods (MPS, PEPS, MERA) for many-body quantum computation. The reference theory anchor for much of the European experimental quantum-network programme, with downstream influence on trapped-ion hardware, atomic-ensemble memories, and repeater architecture across the field.
Current focus: Theoretical quantum information and many-body physics
Milestones
- 2000s-2020s MERA / PEPS / MPS tensor-network methods for many-body quantum simulation and quantum-error-correction theory blog
- 2001-11 DLCZ protocol — long-distance quantum communication with atomic ensembles and linear optics (Duan, Lukin, Cirac, Zoller) paper
- 1995-05 Cirac-Zoller trapped-ion quantum-computer proposal (PRL 74, 4091) paper
People
- J. Ignacio Cirac — Director, Theory Division (since 2001) ↗
Funding
- Max Planck Society — Host institution; direct core funding for the Theory Division
- European Research Council (ERC) — Multiple ERC grants to Cirac and group members
- BMBF (German Federal Ministry of Education and Research) — National quantum-technology programme funding