Siegen physics even more "excellent"
The Department of Physics at the University of Siegen has been extremely successful in the nationwide Cluster of Excellence competition: together with the Universities of Bonn and Dortmund and Forschungszentrum Jülich, particle physicists from Siegen have been awarded the Cluster of Excellence "Color meets Flavor" (more information here). In addition, a working group from the Siegen Physics Department is a cooperation partner of another Cluster of Excellence: the "Experimental Quantum Optics" group led by Prof. Dr. Christof Wunderlich is involved in the "ML4Q" (Matter and Light for Quantum Computing) cluster on the topic of quantum research.
"ML4Q" is a joint cluster of the University of Cologne (host university), the University of Bonn, RWTH Aachen University and Forschungszentrum Jülich. The project was already funded in the first round of the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments and will enter a seven-year extension in the coming funding period from 2026. "In the new phase, ML4Q welcomes new members from the universities of Siegen, Paderborn and Berlin, who will expand the range of technological platforms and strengthen the cluster's theoretical expertise," the cluster's website states.
"The award for 'Color meets Flavor' is already a sensational success. The fact that researchers from our university are also involved in another cluster is fantastic and shows once again that our physicists are playing in the top league. This is also recognized nationally and internationally at major universities. My warmest congratulations go to Mr. Wunderlich and his team," says University Rector Prof. Dr. Stefanie Reese.
"The extension of ML4Q is very good news for quantum research and will significantly advance the field. We are happy and grateful to be part of this outstanding network in the future and look forward to working with our colleagues," says Prof. Dr. Christof Wunderlich from the Siegen Physics Department. His team is part of the cutting-edge international research into quantum computers. The physicists are dedicated to researching new methods for quantum information processing with individually controllable ions. The working group also conducts research into fundamental questions of quantum physics.
"I congratulate my colleague Christof Wunderlich and am delighted that our department is involved in another cluster in addition to 'Color meets Flavor'. In fact, there is also a connection in terms of content between the two clusters - it would be great if we could further strengthen this from Siegen in the coming years," says Prof. Dr. Alexander Lenz, the Siegen spokesperson for the "Color meets Flavor" Cluster of Excellence.
About ML4Q - Matter and Light for Quantum Computing:
Quantum computers promise computing power beyond all classical computers, a novel form of information processing with perspective areas of application in materials research, pharmaceuticals or artificial intelligence. The final breakthrough of this form of technology will be determined in the near future by advances in essential quantum base technologies: fast and efficient quantum bits, combining quantum processors into modular structures, novel forms of quantum software. The Cluster of Excellence pools the unique expertise of its participating partners in three key disciplines of physics - solid-state research, quantum optics and quantum information - for advances in current quantum information technology. "The renewed funding will enable us to further bundle the synergetic strengths of this broad-based research network and achieve breakthroughs in key areas of quantum technology," says Professor Dr. Alexander Altland, future spokesperson of the cluster. In the next funding phase, the integration of quantum hardware and software will play a special role.
