PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

John Rarity

Also known as John G. Rarity

John Rarity is a physicist whose work on photons and entanglement helped build the foundations for secure communication and quantum computing. During his MSc in biophysics and bioengineering, he studied light scattering and photon-counting methods, then completed a PhD at the Royal Military College of Science. By the late 1980s, he had demonstrated path entanglement; with Artur Ekert, he coauthored an interferometer-based scheme for practical quantum cryptography in 1992, and his collaborators reported a Bell’s inequality violation over 4 km of fibre in 1994. His career included a 144 km free-space quantum key distribution demonstration in 2007, an EPSRC Quantum Technology Fellowship and Royal Society election in 2015, and a share of the Micius Quantum Prize with Nicolas Gisin in 2023. As of October 2026, he is an Emeritus Professor at Bristol’s QET Labs.

Works
705
Citations
19,706
h-index
63

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. By 1989

    Photon experiments and path entanglement

    During his MSc in biophysics and bioengineering, he studies light scattering and photon-counting methods. He earns a PhD at the Royal Military College of Science for research on light scattering from colloids. In the late 1980s, he demonstrates path entanglement, and his work helps lay foundations for secure communication and quantum computing.

  2. 1992–1994

    Quantum cryptography and Bell tests

    In 1992, he and Artur Ekert publish a two-photon interferometry scheme for practical quantum cryptography. In 1994, he and collaborators report a Bell’s inequality violation over 4 km of optical fibre. He recognises the potential for experimental quantum information early in his career.

  3. 2007

    A 144 km quantum link

    In 2007, he contributes to a free-space quantum key distribution demonstration over 144 km between Tenerife and La Palma.

  4. 2015

    A Quantum Technology Fellowship

    In 2015, he is Professor of Optical Communication Systems at the University of Bristol and becomes an EPSRC Quantum Technology Fellow for the project ‘Spin-photon systems for scalable quantum processors’. The Royal Society elects him a Fellow.

  5. December 2016–October 2019

    Royal Society committee service

    He serves on the Royal Society’s Sectional Committee 2 for Astronomy and Physics from December 2016 to October 2019.

  6. 2023

    The Micius Quantum Prize

    He shares the 2023 Micius Quantum Prize with Nicolas Gisin for work on quantum communication.

  7. As of October 2026

    Emeritus at Bristol

    In June 2026, he receives the title of Emeritus Professor at Bristol. As of October 2026, he is an Emeritus Professor in QET Labs.

Sources and credits

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  1. Professor John Rarity | Light: Science & Applications nature.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. Bristol scientist wins £130,000 Micius Quantum Prize for pioneering research bristol.ac.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. John Rarity | Quantum Engineering Technology Labs | University of Bristol bristol.ac.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. Bristol scientists become EPSRC Quantum Fellows bristol.ac.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Four new Fellows of the Royal Society announced bristol.ac.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. Professor John Rarity FRS | Royal Society Fellow royalsociety.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  7. 2026 | Quantum Engineering Technology Labs | University of Bristol bristol.ac.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  8. QET Labs academics bristol.ac.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.