When an orchestra performs a piece of music, the conductor ensures that the musicians bring out their finest notes at exactly the right moment. Rianne Lous plays a similar role, but her orchestra is made up of atoms rather than musicians. As a conductor of particles, she studies how atoms interact and work together as the building blocks of matter.
Interview: Michelle Wijma
"I want to be able to control atoms," the experimental physicist says with determination. Rianne Lous is an assistant professor in the Coherence and Quantum Technology group within the Department of Applied Physics and Science Education. "Atoms are amazing. They're the building blocks of our world, and here in our lab, we can actually play with them."
Playing and exploring, that's what Lous enjoys most. "I want to understand why things are the way they are." Her research marks the very first steps in a new direction for her field. "It's all about learning how more complex atoms communicate and come together to shape our world."
Mastering atoms means you can recreate and study the world itself. These same atoms could one day be used to build quantum computers and sensors, but first, you have to understand them. First conduct, then everything else follows.
LISTEN TO YOUR ATOMS
To become a particle conductor, the first step is learning how to "listen" to your atoms. You need to observe them carefully. That's why Lous built a closed system, a vessel filled with particles, designed for precise measurements: her quantum simulator.
She named her project SIntAQS: Sensing Interactions in Atomic Quantum Systems. Unlike a musical orchestra, SIntAQS doesn't hear notes; it measures how atoms interact: how they attract or repel each other, absorb and release energy, and become entangled.
A FIGURATIVE KNOB
"First, SIntAQS needs to observe atomic interactions at a specific moment and under controlled conditions," Lous explains. "Once that works, we see what our system is capable of. That's when a figurative knob appears."
The more you master your system, the more you can steer the atoms as you wish.
Experimental physicist Rianne Lous
That knob is Lous' conductor's baton. She can manipulate her atoms with it. "Imagine two magnets. The distance between them determines how strongly they attract each other. With the knob, we can alter that distance, making the attraction stronger or weaker. In other words, the knob lets us control the interactions between atoms."
"It's amazing to have that kind of control over the particles," Lous says. "The more you master your system, the more you can steer the atoms as you wish."
EMPTY LAB
In the summer of 2022, Lous started building SIntAQS. There was just one problem: she didn't have a lab. "The Qubit building where we're now based wasn't finished yet," the researcher explains. It wasn't until six months after her first PhD student started that they could begin setting up the lab. "The space was completely empty. We had to decide everything ourselves, from office chairs and monitors to every cable and simulator component."
Frustrating? Not at all. Lous says, "It's actually amazing to bring your own idea to life from scratch. And getting to collaborate with students and PhD candidates makes it even more rewarding." So far, eight students and two PhD candidates have contributed to the development of SIntAQS. "I'm really proud of that. We're doing this together."
PROVERBIAL BABY
SIntAQS is Lous' proverbial baby. The scientist laughs at the thought. "Right now, the simulator is in a stubborn toddler phase. Developments happen quickly, but they come with tantrums."
You don't just sketch a setup on paper for a quantum simulator. Lous explains, "You're constantly solving problems, or debugging. For example, a laser broke, and we had issues controlling the humidity. Sometimes we have to wait months for new components because they are custom-made."
Right now, the simulator is in a stubborn toddler phase.
Experimental physicist Rianne Lous
Lous enjoys passing on her experimental mindset to the students she teaches. "Quantum mechanics is often seen as something abstract or even magical," she says.
"The truth is, we can actually do a lot with it. With our knowledge of atoms and quantum mechanics, companies are now building quantum computers and sensors, such as gravimeters that measure gravity with incredible precision. That's what makes it so exciting."
That's why the physicist uses her lectures to give students a toolbox. "It's full of practical quantum tools. I challenge them: pick a tool and get started. Experiment and see where it takes you."
Quantum mechanics is often seen as something abstract or even magical, but in reality, we can do all sorts of things with it.
Experimental physicist Rianne Lous
The key to living an experimental life, Lous says, is learning to pay attention to the results that show you what doesn't work. "That's something I'm still working on myself." She has more ideas than she could ever test in the lab. "I try to focus on a few projects and give each one my full energy."
CALCULATING WITH PROTEINS
In addition to SIntAQS, Lous is currently focusing on the large-scale Rydberg Atom Quantum Computing project. Led by Professor Servaas Kokkelmans , a large team of researchers is working together to build a quantum computer. This computer will be connected to Quantum Inspire , TNO's public cloud quantum computing platform.
Essentially, we want to build the best possible calculator
Experimental physicist Rianne Lous
"Essentially, we want to build the best possible calculator," says Lous. A quantum computer's power goes far beyond that of a classical computer, which means it can tackle far more complex research questions.
The researchers are especially interested in working with proteins. These are complex molecules made of many atoms, each twisting and folding in countless ways.
"If we can figure out how proteins interact, we can start modeling and simulating them," Lous explains. "That kind of insight could pave the way for new medicines and other medical applications."
MAKING QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBLE
From the first cable to the last debugging step, every stage of the project is carefully worked through. The goal is to make the quantum computer accessible to everyone. Lous says, "Then anyone will be able to program on it. That would be a real technological breakthrough."
Accessibility is key in quantum technology. "The sooner people get involved in these kinds of developments, the sooner they can understand what's happening," Lous explains.
The physicist believes that societal decisions shouldn't be made out of ignorance. "We need to base our choices on knowledge that is shared as openly as possible."
Because when science is accessible and diverse, everyone can benefit. Lous knows there will be some bad apples along the way. "But that's no reason to shut things down. It actually shows that we need to make sure everyone can work with new technology and have a say in how it's used."
Will everyone have a quantum computer at home someday? Lous says, "No, these computers are still too complex and their applications too specialized. But through the cloud, anyone can learn to use the technology and make use of it in the future."
So not full orchestras in living rooms, but everyone can have a conductor's baton.
