Dr. Javier Prior

javier_prior Biographical Information:

  • Professor at the Universidad de Murcia, Spain, 01/2020-present (Profesor Titular de Universidad)
  • Professor at the Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Spain, 03/2009-02/2021 (Profesor Titular de Universidad)
  • Researcher of the “Institute Carlos I for theoretical and computational physics“, University of Granada, Spain, 07/2017-present
  • Academic Visitor Univerität Ulm, Institut für Theoretische Physik, Germany, 01/2010-06/2019
  • Co-founder of the bi-annual conference series New trends in Complex Quantum Systems Dynamics
  • Editor of the Journal Scientific Reports
  • Academic Visitor Imperial College, Institute for Mathematical Sciences, London, United Kingdom, 06/2009-01/2010
  • Post-Doc in Atomic and Laser Physics Department, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, United Kingdom, 04/2007-03/2009
  • Post-Doc in Condensed matter, Departamento de física, CIOyN, Universidad de Murcia, Spain, 06/2006-04/2007
  • PhD in Condensed matter, Departamento de fisica, Universidad de Murcia, Spain, 1/2003-06/2006
  • Becario investigación, Instituto de Ciencias de los Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, Spain, 09/2002-12/2002

In the last years my research has focused mainly in three directions; Quantum Biology, Quantum Thermodyanmics and Quantum Sensing.

Quantum Sensing. Exploiting the quantum properties of entanglement and coherence, quantities such as mass, charge, magnetic and electric fields, and temperature can be measured with a sensitivity which significantly exceeds any classical methodologies. One of the most promising platforms to implement the ideas of quatum sensing are nitrogen vacancy centers in diamonds, whose long coherence times and high sensitivity to magnetic fields mean that their capacity to detect and measure frequencies is unparalleled. In this direction, we focus on developing new algorithms and measurement techniques that aid in the experimental research and technological deployment of new devices with increased precision.

Quantum Biology. We have combined techniques from condensed matter theory, quantum optics and physical chemistry to investigate the novel physics of biomolecular processes at the boundary of quantum and classical descriptions. Compelling experimental and theoretical evidence has emerged which suggests that non-classical properties of quantum mechanics may play an important role in the remarkably high efficiency and sensitivity of important biological processes, such as avian navigation, olfaction and photosynthetic light harvesting.

Quantum Thermodynamics is getting our attention in the last years. In the 21st century, the burgeoning quantum technological revolution promises unprecedented advances in our computation and communication capabilities, enabled by harnessing quantum coherence. As our machines are scaled down into the quantum regime, it is of prime importance to understand how quantum mechanics affects the operation of these devices.