Biosketch

Mark Ku is an assistant professor jointly appointed in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Department of Physics and Astronomy. He received his B.S. degree in Mathematics and Physics in 2007, followed by M.Sc. degree in physics in 2009, from the University of British Columbia, Canada. He received Ph.D. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2015. Prior to joining the University of Delaware, he worked as a postdoctoral associate at Harvard University’s Department of Physics, with joint appointments at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and University of Maryland’s Quantum Technology Center.

Research Interests

Technologies that harness quantum phenomena – known as quantum technologies – promise transformative potentials in the areas of computation, sensing, and communication. We seek to contribute to the development of quantum technologies via advancing the following two frontiers:

1. The study of quantum materials – materials that manifest collective quantum phenomena – which may provide platform for qubits or new information technology, and
2. Engineering quantum systems, including hybrid quantum architectures and multi-qubits systems.

A key platform in our research are solid-state atomic qubits formed by defects in wide bandgap semiconductors, the most famous of which being nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond.

Our research employs interdisciplinary concepts and techniques from condensed matters physics, atomic/molecular/optical physics, quantum information science, materials science and engineering, and nanotechnology and fabrication.

For a detailed description of our research interests and activities, please visit the Research Page of the Ku Group website.

Representative Publications