Welcome and opening remarks

Najwa Sidqi Knowledge Transfer Network Ltd. (United Kingdom) Session Chair

11:15
British Telecommunications quantum activities and explorations

Emilio Hugues-Salas British Telecommunications plc (United Kingdom)

British Telecommunications quantum activities are progressing with regards to QKD trials and quantum projects. These QKD demonstrations reflect the incremental expertise that BT has gained in such advanced quantum networks and technologies, providing foundations to the current Metropolitan QKD trial. In this talk, a summary of these activities will be presented considering the maturity of QKD technologies and the evolution of quantum networks. Furthermore, BT’s involvement in existing quantum projects will be also described exploring future quantum implementations.

Emilio Hugues-Salas is a Specialist Research Professional at British Telecommunications plc where he contributes to the UK AIRQKD and the Quantum Data Centre of the Future projects, and to activities aiming at the design of experimental quantum networks. Formerly, Dr. Hugues Salas supported several European- and UK-funded projects as a researcher and Co-Investigator in the areas of quantum communications (e.g. UK Quantum Communications Hub, EU Quantum Flagship UNIQORN). He is author and co-author of over 100 journal and conference articles focused on optical and quantum networks. Dr. Hugues Salas is a Full College Member of the UK EPSRC Peer Review Associate College, an Associate Editor of the IEEE/OSA Journal of Lightwave Technology and a Senior Member of OPTICA.

11:35
FLIMERA: Tissue imaging using a widefield FLIM camera

Andrew Keating Horiba UK Ltd. (United Kingdom)

The most sensitive means to measure a fluorescence lifetime is to use time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC). TCSPC is a time-of-flight technique that can be used in time domain near infrared spectroscopy (TD-NIRS) to investigate biological tissues, due to its ability to distinguish scattering and diffusion processes. TCSPC is also used in fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) to obtain spatial information, and can be employed in a widefield FLIM camera, where the use of in-pixel timing allows fluorescence lifetimes to be obtained for each pixel simultaneously. Developed in partnership with the members of QuanticIC (The UKs Quantum Technology Hub in Quantum Enhanced Imaging), the FLIMERA is a highspeed widefield fluorescence lifetime imaging camera capable of real time video frame rates. Here we show the application of the FLIMERA for the rapid acquisition of FLIM data and the ability of the FLIMERA to visualise tumour boundaries (within a model tumour), and to locate and image hidden objects in tissues and other optically dense media.

Andy Keating is the Life Sciences Sector Sales Manger for HORIBA in the UK and Ireland, responsible for the strategic development of commercial opportunities with the pharmaceutical and wider life science industries. With a background in molecular biology and optical spectroscopy, Andy has worked in the photonics sector since 2011, supporting research, industrial, and OEM customers via a range of photonics-based analytical techniques including fluorescence, Raman, hyperspectral imaging, SPRI, and particle size analysis.

11:55
Quantum sensing in industry: how can we accelerate and integrate to reach the end user?

Louise Smethurst Consultant Engineer BAE Systems (United Kingdom)

This talk will explore how industry is responding to the rapidly changing quantum landscape; the focus will be on the National Accelerator for Quantum Sensors (NAQS) and how BAE, BP and BT are seeking to secure the UK's supply of critical quantum technologies. The challenges to implementation of quantum technologies will be explored. We aim to provide suggestions of pathways to end-user cases for quantum technology developers, particularly from a defence industry perspective.

Louise Smethurst is a Consultant Engineer at BAE Systems Submarines, primarily working in the radiation metrology field. She is responsible for the development, calibration and deployment of radiation detection methods across the Astute, Dreadnought and SSNR submarine programmes. Louise is also responsible for all technology development and research activities for ionising and non-ionising radiation applications and platform sensor networks. Louise is the radiation Qualified Person for the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard. She graduated from Lancaster University in 2006 with a First Class Masters in Physics (MPhys) and then completed a PhD in quantum turbulence in the Physics Department at Lancaster University. Louise sits on the Society for Radiological Protection's Metrology and Measurement Science Committee.