QTF Annual Discovery Prize 2025

Every year, Quantum Technology Finland hands out the QTF Annual Discovery Prize for exceptional quantum research.

During the most recent SAB meeting, the 2025 Annual Prize went to Doctoral Researcher Christoforus Dimas Satrya and OtaNano staff scientist Yu-Cheng Chang from Aalto University for their work on an on-chip bolometer based on DC measurements.

The winners were selected by a jury of esteemed quantum technology experts, who justified their selection as follows:

“The paper presents a novel way of microwave cryogenic measurement using an on-chip bolometer. In stark contrast to the conventional way of measuring microwave transmission using a microwave amplification chain, the authors method uses only a DC measurement to detect high-frequency responses. This could potentially result in drastically reduced wiring requirements circumventing the need for low-temperature amplifiers and isolators,” the judges said.

The paper, representing a major step in the development of bolometers, was published in Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-58919-8

The judges point to the innovation’s future potential and ease-of-use.

“The bolometer can be applied to other applications such microwave single photon detectors and thermometry. As a result, the presented work is highly innovative and has big potential for future impact.”

Both Satrya and Chang were taken by the sudden honor.

“It feels really great. It was unexpected because other candidates had so many good results this year too,” Satrya says.

“It was a surpise, and we feel really thankful,” Chang says.

The winners describe their groundbreaking work further and hint at how it can help quantum technology experts in a press release on Aalto’s site: https://www.aalto.fi/en/news/new-thermal-sensor-presents-novel-way-to-carry-out-cryogenic-measurements