Kok, Pieter, Professor

Professor Pieter Kok

School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Professor of Theoretical Physics

p.kok@sheffield.ac.uk

E12a, Hicks Building

Full contact details

Professor Pieter Kok
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
E12a
Hicks Building
Hounsfield Road
Sheffield
S3 7RH

Profile

My research is in theoretical optical quantum information processing. I am interested in physical architectures and applications for optical quantum devices: How can we use quantum light for practical quantum communication, metrology, imaging, and computing.

Departmental administration

Programme Lead for Physics and Astronomy (2024-present)

Qualifications

Physics degree, �� of Utrecht, the Netherlands (1991-1997)
Physics PhD, �� of Wales, Bangor (1998-2001)

Academic career

NRC Research Fellow, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA (2001-2003)
Research Fellow, Hewlett-Packard Labs, Bristol (2003-2005)
Research Fellow, �� of Oxford (2005-2007)
Lecturer, �� of Sheffield (2007-present)

Research interests

Any practical distributed, long-distance quantum technology—such as the quantum Internet—will most likely involve light as a quantum information carrier. It is therefore important to understand the capabilities and limitations of photons as quantum bits.

Broadly speaking, my research falls into three categories:

linear optical quantum computing
hybrid quantum computing with light and matter qubits
quantum metrology

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Featured publications

Journal articles

Lupo C, Huang Z & Kok P (2020) . Physical Review Letters, 124(8).
Sidhu JS & Kok P (2020) . AVS Quantum Science, 2(1).
Howard LA, Gillett GG, Pearce ME, Abrahao RA, Weinhold TJ, Kok P & White AG (2019) . Physical Review Letters, 123(14).
Hurst D, Joanesarson K, Iles-Smith J, Mork J & Kok P (2019) . Physical Review Letters, 123(2).
Kok P, Pearce ME & Campbell ET (2017) . Quantum, 1, 21-21.

All publications

Books

Kok P (2023) . Springer International Publishing.
Kok P (2018) . Springer International Publishing.
Kok P & Lovett BW (2010) Introduction to Optical Quantum Information Processing.. Cambridge �� Press.

Journal articles

Anastassiou L, Ralph JF, Maskell S & Kok P (2023) . AVS Quantum Science, 5(2).
Marchese MM & Kok P (2023) . Physical Review Letters, 130(16).
Cullen AR & Kok P (2022) . Physical Review A, 106(4).
Zanforlin U, Lupo C, Connolly PWR, Kok P, Buller GS & Huang Z (2022) . Nature Communications, 13(1).
Bojer M, Huang Z, Karl S, Richter S, Kok P & von Zanthier J (2022) . New Journal of Physics, 24(4).
Huang Z, Lupo C & Kok P (2021) . PRX Quantum, 2(3).
Huang Z, Kok P & Lupo C (2021) . Physical Review A, 103(5).
Huang Z, Rohde PP, Berry DW, Kok P, Dowling JP & Lupo C (2021) . Quantum, 5.
Huang Z, Rohde PP, Berry DW, Kok P, Dowling JP & Lupo C (2021) . Quantum, 5.
Sidhu JS, Ouyang Y, Campbell ET & Kok P (2021) . Physical Review X, 11(1).
Lupo C, Huang Z & Kok P (2020) . Physical Review Letters, 124(8).
Sidhu JS & Kok P (2020) . AVS Quantum Science, 2(1).
Huang Z, Macchiavello C, Maccone L & Kok P (2020) . Physical Review A, 101(1), 012124-1-012124-10.
Howard LA, Gillett GG, Pearce ME, Abrahao RA, Weinhold TJ, Kok P & White AG (2019) . Physical Review Letters, 123(14).
Hurst D, Joanesarson K, Iles-Smith J, Mork J & Kok P (2019) . Physical Review Letters, 123(2).
Hurst DL, Price DM, Bentham C, Makhonin M, Royall B, Clarke E, Kok P, Wilson LR, Skolnick MS & Fox AM (2018) . Nano Letters, 18(9), 5475-5481.
Kandula MJ & Kok P (2018) . Physical Review A, 97(6).
Hallett D, Foster A, Hurst D, Royall B, Kok P, Clarke E, Itskevich I, Fox A, Skolnick M & Wilson L (2018) . Optica, 5(5), 644-650.
Kok P, Pearce ME & Campbell ET (2017) . Quantum, 1, 21-21.
Sidhu JS & Kok P (2017) . Physical Review A, 95(6).
Vinay SE & Kok P (2017) . Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 95.
Kok P, Dunningham J & Ralph JF (2017) . Physical Review A, 95(1).
Cao S, Kok P, Li P, Maiden AM & Rodenburg JM (2016) . Physical Review A, 94.
Knott PA, Proctor TJ, Hayes AJ, Ralph JF, Kok P & Dunningham JA (2016) . Physical Review A, 94.
Crickmore J, Frazer J, Shaw S & Kok P (2016) . Physical Review A, 94(2).
Kok P (2016) . Contemporary Physics, 57(4), 526-544.
Coles RJ, Price DM, Dixon JE, Royall B, Clarke E, Kok P, Skolnick MS, Fox AM & Makhonin MN (2016) . Nature Communications, 7(1), 11183-11183.
Bruschi DE, Sabín C, Kok P, Johansson G, Delsing P & Fuentes I (2016) . Scientific Reports, 6.
Pearce ME, Mehringer T, von Zanthier J & Kok P (2015) . Physical Review A, 92.
Kohnle A, Bozhinova I, Browne D, Everitt M, Fomins A, Kok P, Kulaitis G, Prokopas M, Raine D & Swinbank E (2014) . European Journal of Physics, 35(1).
Hosler D & Kok P (2013) . Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 88(5).
Waddington JM, Kettlewell JA & Kok P (2013) . Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 88(1).
(2013) Quantum optical information networks. Optics InfoBase Conference Papers.
Kok P (2013) . Pacific Rim Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO - Technical Digest.
Oppel S, Büttner T, Kok P & Von Zanthier J (2012) . Physical Review Letters, 109(23).
Pérez-Delgado CA, Pearce ME & Kok P (2012) . Phys Rev Lett, 109(12), 123601.
Oppel S, Büttner T, Kok P & von Zanthier J (2012) Beating the classical resolution limit via multi-photon interferences of independent light sources. Optics InfoBase Conference Papers.
Hosler D, Van De Bruck C & Kok P (2012) . Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 85(4).
Zwierz M, Pérez-Delgado CA & Kok P (2012) . Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 85(4).
Kok P (2011) . OPT SPECTROSC+, 111(4), 520-522.
Pérez-Delgado CA & Kok P (2011) . Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 83(1).
Zwierz M, Perez-Delgado CA & Kok P (2010) . PHYS REV LETT, 105(18).
Zwierz M, Perez-Delgado CA & Kok P (2010) . PHYS REV A, 82(4).
Jones PJ & Kok P (2010) . PHYS REV A, 82(2).
Kok P (2010) . NAT PHOTONICS, 4(8), 504-505.
Zwierz M & Kok P (2010) . INT J QUANTUM INF, 8(1-2), 181-218.
Kok P (2010) , 187-219.
Zwierz M & Kok P (2009) . PHYS REV A, 79(2).
Kok P & Barrett SD (2008) . The European Physical Journal Special Topics, 159(1), 85-91.
Kok P (2008) . PHYS REV A, 77(1).
Kok P (2007) . Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical, 40(40), 12256-12258.
Kok P & Lovett BW (2006) . Nature, 444(7115), 49-49.
Williams C, Kok P, Lee H & Dowling JP (2006) Quantum lithography: A non-computing application of quantum information. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 6(12), 73-82.
KOK P & BRAUNSTEIN SL (2006) . International Journal of Quantum Information, 04(01), 119-130.
Williams CP, Kok P, Lee H & Dowling JP (2006) Quantum lithography: A non-computing application of quantum information.. Inform., Forsch. Entwickl., 21, 73-82.
Spiller TP, Munro WJ, Barrett SD & Kok P (2005) . Contemporary Physics, 46(6), 407-436.
Kok P, Barrett SD & Spiller TP (2005) . Journal of Optics B: Quantum and Semiclassical Optics, 7(7), S166-S170.
Munro WJ, Nemoto K, Spiller TP, Barrett SD, Kok P & Beausoleil RG (2005) . Journal of Optics B: Quantum and Semiclassical Optics, 7(7), S135-S140.
Kok P, Ralph TC & Milburn GJ (2005) Communicating continuous quantum variables between different lorentz frames.. Quantum Information & Computation, 5, 239-246.
Kok P (2005) Quantum information and computation web-corner.. Quantum Information & Computation, 5, 272-272.
Kok P (2004) Quantum information and computation web-corner.. Quantum Information & Computation, 4, 161-163.
Kok P (2003) . IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 9(6), 1498-1501.
Pittman TB, Donegan MM, Fitch MJ, Jacobs BC, Franson JD, Pieter Kok , Hwang Lee & Dowling JP (2003) . IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 9(6), 1478-1482.
Kok P & Yurtsever U (2003) Gravitational decoherence. Physical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology, 68(8), 850061-8500613.
Lapaire GG, Kok P, Dowling JP & Sipe JE (2003) Conditional linear-optical measurement schemes generate effective photon nonlinearities. Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 68(4 A).
Kok P, Williams CP & Dowling JP (2003) Construction of a quantum repeater with linear optics. Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 68(2), 223011-223015.
Hockney GM, Kok P & Dowling JP (2003) Suitability versus fidelity for rating single-photon guns. Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 67(3).
Kok P (2003) Quantum information and computation web-corner.. Quantum Information & Computation, 3, 280-280.
Kok P, Lee H & Dowling JP (2002) Single-photon quantum-nondemolition detectors constructed with linear optics and projective measurements. Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 66(6), 638141-638149.
Kok P, Lee H & Dowling JP (2002) Creation of large-photon-number path entanglement conditioned on photodetection. Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 65(5 A), 521041-521045.
Lee H, Kok P, Cerf NJ & Dowling JP (2002) Linear optics and projective measurements along suffice to create large-photon-number path entanglement. Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 65(3 A).
Kok P, Braunstein SL & Dowling JP (2002) . Optics and Photonics News, 13(9), 24-24.
Kok P (2002) Quantum information and computation web-corner.. Quantum Information & Computation, 2, 255-256.
Kok P (2002) Quantum information and computation web-corner.. Quantum Information & Computation, 2, 179-180.
Kok P (2002) Quantum information and computation web-corner.. Quantum Information & Computation, 2, 596-598.
Kok P & Braunstein SL (2001) . Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General, 34(31), 6185-6195.
Kok P, Boto AN, Abrams DS, Williams CP, Braunstein SL & Dowling JP (2001) Quantum-interferometric optical lithography: Towards arbitrary two-dimensional patterns. Physical Review A. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 63(6).
Kok P (2001) Webcorner.. Quantum Information & Computation, 1, 94-96.
Kok P (2001) Quantum information and computation web-corner.. Quantum Information & Computation, 1, 91-92.
Kok P, Lee H, Cerf NJ & Dowling JP (2001) Long-distance quantum communication just around the corner?. Quantum Information & Computation, 1, 87-88.
Kok P & Braunstein SL (2000) Entanglement swapping as event-ready entanglement preparation. Fortschritte der Physik, 48(5-7), 553-557.
Kok P & Braunstein SL (2000) Postselected versus nonpostselected quantum teleportation using parametric down-conversion. Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 61(4), 423041-4230410.
Duda M, Brunswick L, Wilson LR & Kok P () . Physical Review A, 110(4).
Callus E & Kok P () . Physical Review A, 108(4).
Lupo C, Peat JT, Andersson E & Kok P () . Physical Review Research, 5(3).
Hurst DL, Joanesarson KB, Iles-Smith J, Mørk J & Kok P () . Physical Review Letters, 123(2).
Vinay SE & Kok P () . Physical Review A, 97(4).
Hurst DL & Kok P () . Physical Review A, 97(4).
Morley-Short S, Rosenfeld L & Kok P () . Physical Review A, 90(6).
Zwierz M, Pérez-Delgado CA & Kok P () . Physical Review Letters, 107(5).
Pérez-Delgado CA & Kok P () . Physical Review A, 83(2).
Campbell ET, Fitzsimons J, Benjamin SC & Kok P () . New Journal of Physics, 9(6), 196-196.
Kok P, Munro WJ, Nemoto K, Ralph TC, Dowling JP & Milburn GJ () . Reviews of Modern Physics, 79(2), 797-797.
Campbell ET, Fitzsimons J, Benjamin SC & Kok P () . Physical Review A, 75(4).
Kok P, Munro WJ, Nemoto K, Ralph TC, Dowling JP & Milburn GJ () . Reviews of Modern Physics, 79(1), 135-174.
Scheel S, Munro WJ, Eisert J, Nemoto K & Kok P () . Physical Review A, 73(3).
Lim YL, Barrett SD, Beige A, Kok P & Kwek LC () . Physical Review A, 73(1).
Kok P & Munro WJ () . Physical Review Letters, 95(4).
Barrett SD & Kok P () . Physical Review A, 71(6).
Barrett SD, Kok P, Nemoto K, Beausoleil RG, Munro WJ & Spiller TP () . Physical Review A, 71(6).
Gingrich RM, Kok P, Lee H, Vatan F & Dowling JP () . Physical Review Letters, 91(21).
Kok P, Williams CP & Dowling JP () . Physical Review A, 68(2).
Hockney GM, Kok P & Dowling JP () . Physical Review A, 67(3).
Lapaire GG, Kok P, Dowling JP & Sipe JE () . Physical Review A, 68(4).
Kok P, Lee H & Dowling JP () . Physical Review A, 66(6).
Lee H, Kok P, Cerf NJ & Dowling JP () . Physical Review A, 65(3).
Kok P, Lee H & Dowling JP () . Physical Review A, 65(5).
Kok P, Boto AN, Abrams DS, Williams CP, Braunstein SL & Dowling JP () . Physical Review A, 63(6).
Kok P & Braunstein SL () . Physical Review A, 63(3).
Kok P & Braunstein SL () . Physical Review A, 62(6).
Boto AN, Kok P, Abrams DS, Braunstein SL, Williams CP & Dowling JP () . Physical Review Letters, 85(13), 2733-2736.
Kok P & Braunstein SL () . Physical Review A, 61(4).
Vinay SE & Kok P () . Physical Review A, 99(4).
Callus E & Kok P () Maximal entanglement generation in spectrally distinct solid state qubits.

Conference proceedings papers

Zanforlin U, Lupo C, Connolly PWR, Kok P, Buller GS & Huang Z (2023) . Photonics for Quantum 2023, 5 June 2023 - 9 June 2023.
Lupo C, Huang Z & Kpk P (2021) (pp 73)
Howard LA, Gillett GG, Pearce ME, Abrahao RA, Weinhold TJ, Kok P & White AG (2020) . Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
Lupo C, Huang Z & Kok P (2020) The quantum limit to incoherent imaging is achieved by linear interferometry. 24th IMEKO TC4 International Symposium and 22nd International Workshop on ADC and DAC Modelling and Testing (pp 239-243)
Joanesarson KB, Hurst DL, Iles-Smith J, Mork J & Kok P (2019) . 2019 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC), 23 June 2019 - 27 June 2019.
Vinay S & Kok P (2017) . Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 10118
Oppel S, Büttner T, Kok P & von Zanthier J (2012) . Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
Kapale KT, Didomenico LD, Lee H, Kok P & Dowling JP (2007) . Noise and Fluctuations in Photonics, Quantum Optics, and Communications
Munro WJ, Nemoto K, Spiller TP, Beausoleil RG, Kok P & Barrett SD (2005) . Quantum Communications and Quantum Imaging III
Beausoleil RG, Barrett SD, Kok P, Nemoto K, Munro WJ & Spiller TP (2005) . Advanced Optical and Quantum Memories and Computing II
DiDomenico LD, Lee H, Kok P & Dowling JP (2004) . Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices
Lee H, Kok P, Williams CP & Dowling JP (2004) . Journal of Optics B: Quantum and Semiclassical Optics, Vol. 6(8) (pp S796-S800)
Kok P, Braunstein SL & Dowling JP (2004) . Journal of Optics B: Quantum and Semiclassical Optics, Vol. 6(8) (pp S811-S815)
Lee H, Yurtsever U, Kok P, Hockney GM, Adami C, Braunstein SL & Dowling JP (2004) . Journal of Modern Optics, Vol. 51(9-10) (pp 1517-1528)
Braunstein SL, Boto AN, Kok P, Abrams DS, Williams CP & Dowling JP (2003) . Fluctuations and Noise in Photonics and Quantum Optics
Kok P, Lee H, Williams CP & Dowling JP (2003) . Noise and Information in Nanoelectronics, Sensors, and Standards
Hockney GM, Kok P & Dowling JP (2003) Suitability vs. Fidelity: toward better measures of goodness for single-photon guns. Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
Kok P (2003) Limitations on Building Single-photon-resolution Detection Devices. Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
Lee H, Kok P & Dowling JP (2003) Number-Resolving Photon and Non-Photon Detectors. Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
Dowling JP, Lee H, Vatan F, Kok P & Gingrich RM (2003) Linear Optical Quantum Memory. Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
Lee H, Kok P & Dowling JP (2002) . Journal of Modern Optics, Vol. 49(14-15) (pp 2325-2338)

Preprints

Martin NJ, Hallett D, Duda M, Hallacy L, Callus E, Brunswick L, Dost R, Clarke E, Patil PK, Kok P , Skolnick MS et al (2025) Purcell-Enhanced, Directional Light-Matter Interaction in a Waveguide-Coupled Nanocavity.
Duda M, Brunswick L, Wilson LR & Kok P (2024) Efficient, High-Fidelity Single-Photon Switch Based on Waveguide-Coupled Cavities.
Callus E & Kok P (2022) , arXiv.
Callus E & Kok P (2021) Cumulative generation of maximal entanglement between spectrally distinct qubits using squeezed light, arXiv.
Sidhu JS, Ouyang Y, Campbell ET & Kok P (2019) , arXiv.
Hurst DL, Price DM, Bentham C, Makhonin MN, Royall B, Clarke E, Kok P, Wilson LR, Skolnick MS & Fox AM (2018) Non-Reciprocal Transmission and Reflection of a Chirally-Coupled Quantum Dot, arXiv.
Hallett D, Foster AP, Hurst DL, Royall B, Kok P, Clarke E, Itskevich IE, Fox AM, Skolnick MS & Wilson LR (2017) Electrical control of nonlinear quantum optics in a nano-photonic waveguide, arXiv.
Cao S, Kok P, Li P, Maiden AM & Rodenburg JM (2016) Modal decomposition of a propagating matter wave via electron ptychography, arXiv.
Coles RJ, Price DM, Dixon JE, Royall B, Clarke E, Fox AM, Kok P, Skolnick MS & Makhonin MN (2015) Chirality of nanophotonic waveguide with embedded quantum emitter for unidirectional spin transfer, arXiv.
Pérez-Delgado CA, Pearce ME & Kok P (2012) Fundamental Limits of Classical and Quantum Imaging.
Zwierz M, Pérez-Delgado CA & Kok P (2012) Ultimate limits to quantum metrology and the meaning of the Heisenberg limit.
Hosler D, van de Bruck C & Kok P (2011) Information gap for classical and quantum communication in a Schwarzschild spacetime, arXiv.
Zwierz M, Pérez-Delgado CA & Kok P (2010) Unifying parameter estimation and the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm for continuous variables.
Zwierz M, Perez-Delgado CA & Kok P (2010) General optimality of the Heisenberg limit for quantum metrology.
Zwierz M, Perez-Delgado CA & Kok P (2010) Optimality of the Heisenberg limit for continuous-variable quantum metrology.
Perez-Delgado CA & Kok P (2009) What is a quantum computer, and how do we build one?.

Grants

Large Baseline Quantum-Enhanced Imaging Networks, EPSRC £441k (2021-2024, PI)
Quantum and Many Body Physics Enabled by Advanced Semiconductor Nanotechnology, EPSRC £7.7M (2021-2026, Co-I)
Quantum communications Hub, EPSRC £400k (2019-2024, PI)
Semiconductor Quantum Photonics, EPSRC £5.6M (2016-2021, CoI)
Quantum Communication, EPSRC QT Hub, £500K (2015-2019, PI)
Semiconductor Integrated Quantum Optical Circuits , EPSRC £5M (20012-2017, Co-I)

Teaching activities

Undergraduate taught modules (current)

PHY11006 Mechanics
PHY128 Classical and Quantum Optics
PHY21004 Subatomic Physics & Relativity

Professional activities and memberships

Deputy Head of Department (Sep 2022-present)
Associate Editor for the AIP journal AVS Quantum Science, (2019–present)
Chair EPSRC Prioritisation Panel for Quantum Technologies (January 2022)
Member of the Editorial Board of Physical Review A
External examiner for Physics at Loughborough �� (2014-present)

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School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences

School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Professor Pieter Kok

Departmental administration

Featured publications

Journal articles

All publications

Books

Journal articles

Conference proceedings papers

Preprints

Undergraduate taught modules (current)

Public engagement

Links

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