Summary

The Project represents a coordinated experimental/theoretical effort in developing and testing quantum protocols. Within a worldwide academy and industry effort to develop quantum computers, based on quantum qubits and quantum Hamiltonian, the quantum protocols, i.e. well-designed Hamiltonian acting on the qubits, represent important steps. Even if the qubits offer enormous computation power, the quantum target may be reached more efficiently, more rapidly and with more stability using properly designed quantum protocols. Within this Project these new protocols will be tested on the natural qubits easily assessed in worldwide research laboratories: simple atoms and molecules. The experimental and theoretical tools should be classified within the broad area of quantum optics, where the photons, typically from laser sources, create the quantum control protocols, and the atoms/molecules constitute the qubits where quantum information is stored and manipulated.

The Project will apply this quantum control approach to open theoretical and experimental problems such as: implementation of a molecular all-optical spin switch via control of spin-orbit interaction, realization of molecular orientation, superadiabatic protocols for the coherent control of cold atoms and molecule, control of ultra-cold chemical reactions, and spin-polarized quantum emitters.
The objectives of the project will be achieved via an intensive transfer of knowledge among the EU and TC participants in the consortium during the carefully planned secondments.

The consortium members are well established specialists in various aspects of physics of light-matter interactions, including theoretical, experimental and numerical techniques.  The gender balance in the consortium is well kept, with three of the team leaders being female.

• to conduct state-of-the-art research in the field of experimental/theoretical quantum control via development of novel quantum control protocols for all-optical spin switch, molecular orientation, as well as spin-entangled cold atoms, control of ultra-cold chemical reactions, the products distribution, Rydberg-ion molecules via manipulation by external fields, e.g. lasers, radio frequency and microwave fields and quantum emitters coupled to optical nano-fibers and cavities.
• to provide Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) with high quality training in modern theoretical/experimental approaches in the field of quantum optics and quantum control via transfer of knowledge from experts in the field to the young participants; special emphasis will be made on the complementary skills training, e.g. planning research activities, presenting scientific results, preparing conference abstracts and manuscripts for publication. 
• to strengthen old and establish new collaborations among the international participating teams by using the possibilities offered by the SE scheme to promote networking between all  partners via sharing and transfer of knowledge and ideas between teams with different expertise. 
• to communicate and disseminate research results to the scientific community and the general public, as well as to coordinate future technical applications by negotiating with industry partners.