NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Current Work

Currently Dr. Durkin is coordinating the new NASA Ames Quantum Laboratory (NAQL). This is a special initiative, unique among NASA centers, to establish a center of excellence for all aspects of Quantum Mechanics, fundamental and applied, in both theory and experiment. The NAQL aims to perform groundbreaking research here at Ames, involving physicists, Space scientists and engineers from a variety of NASA divisions in a completely interdisciplinary effort. Externally, the NAQL is fostering collaborations in Quantum Physics with other NASA centers and University research groups, both locally and further afield. Long-term goals for the NAQL include not only journal publication, but developing devices that may contribute significantly in NASA's mission of Space exploration.

Research Interests

Dr. Durkin is fascinated by all aspects of theoretical physics, in particular those relating to fundamental quantum mechanics, quantum optics and quantum information.

Dr. Durkin is exploring the possibility that quantum effects produce a significant enhancement in physical measurement. In other words, by exploiting the quantum correlations that may exist between atoms or photons, measurements (e.g. of distance, angle, time) can be made at an ultimate precision limit well beyond that of conventional measuring devices. This phenomenon of "quantum metrology" has many powerful ramifications, e.g. in the fields of lithography, microscopy, inertial navigation, clocks and observation of gravitational waves. His latest publication is on the subject of quantum interferometry.

Selected Publications

• Gabriel A. Durkin, “Light and Spin Entanglement” D.Phil Thesis, Bodleian Library, Oxford University.
• Gabriel A. Durkin, C. Simon, D. Bouwmeester, “Multi-Photon Entanglement Concentration and Quantum Cryptography”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 187902, Sept. 2003, http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v88/e187902
• Gabriel A. Durkin and Christoph Simon, “Multipartite Entanglement Inequalities via Spin Vector Geometry”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 180402, Oct. 2005, http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v95/e180402
• Gabriel A. Durkin, C. Simon, J. Eisert, D. Bouwmeester, “Resilience of Multi-Photon Entanglement under Losses” Phys. Rev. A. 70, 062305, Dec. 2004, http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRA/v70/e062305
• H.S. Eisenberg, G. Khoury, G. A. Durkin, C. Simon and D. Bouwmeester, “Quantum Entanglement of a Large Number of Photons” Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 193901, Nov. 2004, http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v93/e193901
• Gabriel A. Durkin, C. Simon, A. Lamas-Linares, J. Howell, D. Bouwmeester, “Multi-Photon Quantum Cryptography and Quantum Cloning” Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Quantum Communication, Measurement and Computing. Rinton Press 2003
• Gabriel A. Durkin and Jonathan P. Dowling, “Local and Global Distinguishability in Quantum Interferometry”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 070801, Aug. 2007, http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v99/e070801