Professor Pieter Kok

School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Professor of Theoretical Physics

Professor Pieter Kok
Profile picture of Professor Pieter Kok
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, University of Utrecht, the Netherlands (1991-1997)
  • Physics PhD, University 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, University of Oxford (2005-2007)
  • Lecturer, ±¬ÁÏTV (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

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).
  • Pearce ME, Campbell ET & Kok P (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 University Press.
  • (2000) . Wiley.

Journal articles

  • Huang Z, Titov O, Schmidt MK, Pope B, Brennen GK, Oi DKL & Kok P (2026) . Advances in Physics: X, 11(1), 2597311.
  • 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) . Optica, 12(7), 1100-1108.
  • Modak S & Kok P (2025) . Physical Review A, 111(4).
  • Duda M, Brunswick L, Wilson LR & Kok P (2024) . Physical Review A, 110(4).
  • Callus E & Kok P (2023) . Physical Review A, 108(4).
  • Lupo C, Peat JT, Andersson E & Kok P (2023) . Physical Review Research, 5(3).
  • 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).
  • Vinay SE & Kok P (2019) . Physical Review A, 99.
  • 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.
  • Vinay SE & Kok P (2018) . Physical Review A, 97(4).
  • Hurst DL & Kok P (2018) . Physical Review A, 97(4).
  • Pearce ME, Campbell ET & Kok P (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.
  • Bruschi DE, Sabín C, Kok P, Johansson G, Delsing P & Fuentes I (2016) . Scientific Reports, 6.
  • Pearce ME & 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).
  • Kok P (2013) . Pacific Rim Conference on Lasers and Electro Optics CLEO Technical Digest.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Zwierz M, Pérez-Delgado CA & Kok P (2012) . Physical Review A Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, 85(4).
  • Hosler D, Van De Bruck C & Kok P (2012) . Physical Review A Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, 85(4).
  • 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.
  • 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 & Kok P (2010) . INT J QUANTUM INF, 8(1-2), 181-218.
  • 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.
  • 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 & BRAUNSTEIN SL (2006) . International Journal of Quantum Information, 04(01), 119-130.
  • 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.
  • Williams CP, Kok P, Lee H & Dowling JP (2006) . 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) . Quantum Inf. Comput., 5, 239-246.
  • Kok P (2005) . Quantum Inf. Comput., 5, 272-272.
  • Kok P (2004) . Quantum Inf. Comput., 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 (2003) . Quantum Inf. Comput., 3, 280-280.
  • 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), 032306/4.
  • 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.
  • 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), 042314/11.
  • Kok P, Braunstein SL & Dowling JP (2002) . Optics and Photonics News, 13(9), 24-24.
  • Kok P (2002) . Quantum Inf. Comput., 2, 255-256.
  • 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), 030101/4.
  • Kok P (2002) . Quantum Inf. Comput., 2, 179-180.
  • 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.
  • 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 (2002) . Quantum Inf. Comput., 2, 596-598.
  • Kok P (2001) . Quantum Inf. Comput., 1, 91-92.
  • Kok P, Lee H, Cerf NJ & Dowling JP (2001) . Quantum Inf. Comput., 1, 87-88.
  • Kok P & Braunstein SL (2001) . Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General, 34(31), 6185-6195.
  • Kok P (2001) . Quantum Inf. Comput., 1, 94-96.
  • 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), 063407/8.
  • Kok P & Braunstein SL (2000) . 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.
  • 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 & Yurtsever U () . Physical Review D, 68(8).
  • Lapaire GG, Kok P, Dowling JP & Sipe JE () . Physical Review A, 68(4).
  • Kok P, Williams CP & Dowling JP () . Physical Review A, 68(2).
  • Hockney GM, Kok P & Dowling JP () . Physical Review A, 67(3).
  • Kok P, Lee H & Dowling JP () . Physical Review A, 66(6).
  • Kok P, Lee H & Dowling JP () . Physical Review A, 65(5).
  • Lee H, Kok P, Cerf NJ & Dowling JP () . Physical Review A, 65(3).
  • 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).

Conference proceedings

  • Zanforlin U, Lupo C, Connolly PWR, Kok P, Buller GS & Huang Z (2023) . Photonics for Quantum 2023, Vol. 12633. Rochester, New York, United States, 5 June 2023 - 5 June 2023.
  • Lupo C, Huang Z & Kpk P (2021) . Optical and Quantum Sensing and Precision Metrology (pp 73-73), 6 March 2021 - 12 March 2021.
  • Howard LA, Gillett GG, Pearce ME, Abrahao RA, Weinhold TJ, Kok P & White AG (2020) . Frontiers in Optics / Laser Science, Vol. 6. Washington, DC United States, 14 September 2020 - 14 September 2020.
  • 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) (pp 1-1), 23 June 2019 - 27 June 2019.
  • Vinay S & Kok P (2017) . Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 10118. San Francisco, California
  • Oppel S, Büttner T, Kok P & von Zanthier J (2012) . Research in Optical Sciences (pp QM3B.6-QM3B.6), 2012.
  • Kapale KT, Didomenico LD, Lee H, Kok P & Dowling JP (2007) . SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 6603 (pp 660316-660316)
  • Munro WJ, Nemoto K, Spiller TP, Beausoleil RG, Kok P & Barrett SD (2005) . SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 5893 (pp 58930I-58930I)
  • Beausoleil RG, Barrett SD, Kok P, Nemoto K, Munro WJ & Spiller TP (2005) . SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 5735 (pp 143-143)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • DiDomenico LD, Lee H, Kok P & Dowling JP (2004) . SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 5359 (pp 169-169)
  • Braunstein SL, Boto AN, Kok P, Abrams DS, Williams CP & Dowling JP (2003) . SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 5111 (pp 268-268)
  • Kok P, Lee H, Williams CP & Dowling JP (2003) . SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 5115 (pp 298-298)
  • 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) , arXiv.
  • Duda M, Brunswick L, Wilson LR & Kok P (2024) , arXiv.
  • Callus E & Kok P (2022) , arXiv.
  • Callus E & Kok P (2021) , 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) , arXiv.
  • Hallett D, Foster AP, Hurst DL, Royall B, Kok P, Clarke E, Itskevich IE, Fox AM, Skolnick MS & Wilson LR (2017) , arXiv.
  • Cao S, Kok P, Li P, Maiden AM & Rodenburg JM (2016) , arXiv.
  • Coles RJ, Price DM, Dixon JE, Royall B, Clarke E, Fox AM, Kok P, Skolnick MS & Makhonin MN (2015) , 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) , 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 University (2014-present)

Public engagement

Links