About me

I graduated in Physics in 2002 with Massimo Palma at the University of Palermo (Italy) working on the influence of classical noise on the Berry phase. I then started in 2003 my PhD in Physics at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa (Italy) under the supervision of Rosario Fazio. 

At the beginning I worked on quantum information processing with spin networks. I devoted the second part of my PhD developing a time dependent density matrix renormalization group code (t-DMRG). It is freely distributed at this page. I used the code to study the superfluid-Mott insulator transition in one-dimensional spin-1 condensate and the dynamics of entanglement in critical spin chains. 

After my PhD in 2006, I moved to BEC centre in Trento and worked mainly with Tommaso Calarco on implementation of quantum information processing with cold atoms. I particular we showed how the use of optimal control theory can enhance the fidelity of quantum gates with neutral atoms in optical lattices. 

In 2007 I joined as a PostDoc the quantum optics group at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (Spain) leaded by Giovanna Morigi where I worked on ion crystals and ultracold atoms in cavities.

In October 2009 I moved to Anna Sanpera's group at the quantum information group at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (Spain). where I worked on spin chains and entanglement in one-dimensional systems.

In July 2011 I started as a Lecturer at the Queen's University of Belfast in the Quantum Technology group and then was promoted to Reader in 2020 and to Professor in 2024. In 2025 I moved as "Profesor Titular" at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, in the Quantum Information Group (GIQ).

• Current position: Professor of Quantum Information

• Short CV:

  • Degree: 2002, Degree with merits in Phyisics, with Prof. G. Massimo Palma University of Palermo; Diploma Thesis: Berry's phase in the presence of classical noise

  • PhD: 2003-2005 with Prof. Rosario Fazio, Scuola Normale Superiore

  • Dissertation: Quantum Information, Entanglement and Critical Phenomena (download it here)

  • 2006-2007 PostDoc at CNR-INFM-BEC & Univ. di Trento with Tommaso Calarco

  • 2007-2009 PostDoc at Grup d'Optica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona with Giovanna Morigi

  • 2009-2011 PostDoc (Juan de la Cierva fellow) at Grup de Informació Quàntica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona with Anna Sanpera.

  • 2011- 2020 Lecturer, Queen's University of Belfast

  • 2020-2024  Reader, Queen's University Belfast

  • 2024-2025  Professor, Queen's University Belfast

  • 2025-           Profesor Titular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

My Research

• Statistical mechanics and Thermodynamics in the quantum regime

•  Quantum information  processing

•  Condensed matter physics in low dimensional systems

•  Entanglement and quantum information in condensed matter physics

•  Density matrix renormalization group and tensor networks methods

•  Quantum optimal control

•  Quantum optics

• Berry's phase and geometrical dephasing