Introduction
Henry Coop recently graduated from the University of Oxford with an MPhys degree specialising in quantum physics and now works as a trainee patent attorney at Dehns. In this article, he reflects on specialising in quantum information processing, condensed matter physics and quantum computing at Oxford, and how that academic background now supports his work in intellectual property and emerging technologies.
Early Years of the MPhys
I came into the degree having studied Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and Mandarin Chinese at A Level. At that stage, I had every intention to be a researcher, but the realisation that a career in the lab was not for me – potentially unifying among patent attorneys – some way through my second year was what catalysed the pivot to where I am now.
The first three years of the degree provide an extensive and quite detailed foundation across many areas of physics, from courses in symmetry and relativity to fluids, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, atomic physics, and others. That then provides a good platform for specialising into very diverse fields from atmospheric physics to biophysics to condensed matter and quantum physics, the latter of which formed my eventual specialism.
Labs throughout the degree were a whirlwind of acclimatising to manipulating and articulating ideas around unfamiliar concepts, which I enjoyed. Latterly, spending an extended period in the fourth year collaborating with a research group on a single project throughout presented a very different view of the lab, though nonetheless fraught with grappling with complex and sensitive equipment.
Specialising in Condensed Matter Physics and Lasers & Quantum Information Processing
The fourth year heralded an explosion of choices of specialism, involving applying to various professors for their Master’s projects in the laboratory, and choosing two taught courses for Finals. My choices were Condensed Matter Physics and Lasers & Quantum Information Processing (QIP) – two quite complementary courses that I’d been interested in as soon as I got to know about them. They were bound further by my Master’s project, which looked into the amplifying the photoluminescence of perovskite nanowires and quantum dots when stimulated with laser light, using quantum-mechanical plasmonic interactions with metal nanoparticles. One long-term application of this research is implementing this technology in quantum computers.
The project could almost be described as quantum chemistry, so the grounding, especially in crystallography, magnetism, and optical properties of solids, proved extremely useful – and has been cursorily referenced in a couple of my cases at Dehns so far! The long-term view to implement the plasmonic emission in developing photonic quantum computers was also usefully grounded in the QIP course. It not only went into detail about ways to encode information in entangled quantum systems, but also algorithms and methods for using that information in computation. However, perhaps most relevant was the focus on quantum optics: the study of doing computations with photons of light, and using their properties to encode information much more densely than we can with classical bits. It is this that makes QIP so powerful if we can scale it.
Quantum Physics as a Trainee Patent Attorney
The opportunity to be involved in such a detailed way with advanced and current concepts in a practical manner is what transformed my interest in quantum mechanics from a benign curiosity to now actively wanting to use my up-to-date knowledge to stay astride of the advances in the field as they happen. Almost all research now has some kind of quantum considerations, and that’s clearly being borne out both in the growing number of patent cases hitting the scene, and also in where potential investors I’ve spoken to are looking for the next big market to come from. It’s also exciting to see a number of my friends going down the PhD route towards academia, and to have a more personal interest in seeing their research develop – particularly in those quantum fields where I have the best idea of what’s going on!
Quantum Computing at Dehns
I’m really excited to be part of the Quantum Computing team at Dehns; everyone in the team has genuine expertise and experience with quantum technologies, from both an academic and professional perspective. It’s very rewarding to discuss ideas with inventors at quantum companies without having to compromise on technical details, quickly understanding their technology and helping them to identify ways in which their IP can support their business and their commercial goals. We also speak to those investing in quantum technology, advising them on the value and strength of a company’s IP before they make their decision about whether or not to invest.
Overall, I’m delighted to be working in a sector whose technology is both super interesting per se and also evolving so quickly; I especially like that I have the opportunity to use my academic background and interest in quantum technology in my work life – it’s a great fusion of the two!