Jesús Rubio

Dr Jesús Rubio

Theoretical physicist and quantum scientist. Understanding is the work. Creating is the joy.

Current position

I am a Surrey Future Fellow at the University of Surrey.

What does a theoretical physicist do?

My job is to search for the general principles that govern nature and to create mathematical frameworks for their precise formulation. My motivation is to identify rational explanations for the phenomena that shape human experience. Creating and understanding are therefore my core activities.

If you wish to contact me

The best way to contact me is by email. I prefer this option because it is an open, universal standard. Should I not respond promptly, please feel free to send a follow-up, as emails can occasionally slip through despite my best efforts.

Please note: The short version of my name is either J. Rubio or J. Rubio Jiménez, as Rubio Jiménez are both surnames and I do not have a middle name.

Research vision

Measurement is our most direct way to question nature. Advancing the foundations of physics therefore requires a measurement theory suited to regimes where fundamental effects dominate. To this end, I am developing a universally applicable framework for quantum metrology and estimation. Key research themes include:

Quantum science and foundations

  • Quantum metrology in extreme regimes.
  • Bayesian quantum inference, with emphasis on variational principles and multiparameter estimation.
  • Quantum light, thermodynamics, and relativity.

Quantum information technologies

  • Quantum sensing, with applications in interferometry, thermometry, imaging, and sensor networks.
  • Quantum-inspired data science.

Beyond specific research themes, my professional practice is guided by the belief that understanding time and information is among the most profound challenges of science. I view probability theory — seen as an extension of propositional logic — as the most effective framework for connecting physical theories with experiments. Deeper insights into the foundations of physics often emerge from resolving inconsistencies in overlapping physical theories. Above all, I believe that scientific papers should not only inform but also teach.

Journal articles

  1. J. Boeyens, J. Glatthard, E. Gandar, S. Nimmrichter, L. A. Correa, J. Rubio (2025)
    On the role of symmetry and geometry in global quantum sensing
    arXiv:2502.14817

  2. M. Overton, J. Rubio, N. Cooper, D. Baldolini, D. Johnson, J. Anders, L. Hackermüller (2024)
    Substantial precision enhancements via adaptive symmetry-informed Bayesian metrology
    arXiv:2410.10615 (2024)

  3. J. Rubio (2024)
    First-principles construction of symmetry-informed quantum metrologies
    Phys. Rev. A, 110, L030401; arXiv:2402.16410

  4. A.S.F. Oliveira, J. Rubio, C.E.M. Noble, J.L.R. Anderson, J. Anders, A.J. Mulholland (2023)
    Fluctuation relations to calculate protein redox potentials from molecular dynamics simulations
    J. Chem. Theory Comput. 20, 1, 385-395; arXiv:2302.13089

  5. J. Glatthard, J. Rubio, R. Sawant, T. Hewitt, G. Barontini, L. A. Correa (2022)
    Optimal cold atom thermometry using adaptive Bayesian strategies
    PRX Quantum, 3, 040330; arXiv:2204.11816

  6. J. Rubio (2022)
    Quantum scale estimation
    Quantum Sci. Technol., 8, 015009; arXiv:2111.11921

  7. D. Branford, J. Rubio (2021)
    Average number is an insufficient metric for interferometry
    New J. Phys., 23, 123041; arXiv:2107.06698

  8. N. Eerqing, S. Subramanian, J. Rubio, T. Lutz, H.-Y. Wu, J. Anders, C. Soeller, F. Vollmer (2021)
    Comparing transient oligonucleotide hybridization kinetics using DNA-PAINT and optoplasmonic single-molecule sensing on gold nanorods
    ACS Photonics, 8, 10, 2882-2888; arXiv:2103.07520

  9. J. Rubio, J. Anders, L. A. Correa (2021)
    Global quantum thermometry
    Phys. Rev. Lett., 127, 190402; arXiv:2011.13018

  10. J. Rubio, P. A. Knott, T. J. Proctor, J. A. Dunningham (2020)
    Quantum sensing networks for the estimation of linear functions
    J. Phys. A: Math. Theor., 53, 344001; arXiv:2003.04867

  11. J. Rubio, J. Dunningham (2020)
    Bayesian multiparameter quantum metrology with limited data
    Phys. Rev. A, 101, 032114; arXiv:1906.04123

  12. R. Nichols, L. Mineh, J. Rubio, J. C. F. Matthews, P. A. Knott (2019)
    Designing quantum experiments with a genetic algorithm
    Quantum Sci. Technol., 4, 045012; arXiv:1812.01032

  13. J. Rubio, J. Dunningham (2019)
    Quantum metrology in the presence of limited data
    New J. Phys., 21, 043037; arXiv:1810.12857

  14. J. Rubio, P. Knott, J. Dunningham (2018)
    Non-asymptotic analysis of quantum metrology protocols beyond the Cramér-Rao bound
    J. Phys. Commun., 2, 015027; arXiv:1707.05022

  15. J. Rubio, A. Luis (2014)
    Spin state in the propagation of quantum relativistic particles along classical trajectories
    Phys. Rev. A, 89, 052128; arXiv:1402.6063

PhD Thesis

J. Rubio Jiménez (2020)
Non-asymptotic quantum metrology: extracting maximum information from limited data
University of Sussex; arXiv:1912.02324

Others

A. Sánchez de Miguel, J. Zamorano, B. Pila-Díez, J. Rubio, R. Ruiz, I. Rodríguez-Herranz, A. González-Pérez (2011)
Light pollution in Spain 2010
Highlights of Spanish Astrophysics VI, IX Scientific Meeting of the Spanish Astronomical Society (SEA), Madrid, Sept. 13–17, 2010, pp. 784–784

J. Rubio Jiménez (2009)
Quince años de pasión por la astronomía
Tribuna Complutense, Otra Mirada, p. 24

Selected talks

2024

  • Global sensing informed by symmetries: a new path to optimality in quantum metrology
    ICE-9, Tenerife. Invited talk. Slides

  • Symmetry-informed quantum metrologies
    QUMINOS, Les Diablerets. Slides

2023

  • Quantum scale metrology: highly-precise measurements beyond phase estimation
    27th CEWQO, Milan. Slides

  • Measuring the lifetime of a mixed state
    Quantum-classical interface in closed and open systems, Surrey. Poster

2022

  • Quantum thermometry with adaptive Bayesian strategies: a case study for release-recapture experiments
    JSPS London Symposium, Nottingham. Slides

2021

  • From networks to thermometry: precision in quantum technologies
    QUINFOG seminar, Madrid. Invited talk. Slides

  • Quantum sensing networks: a multiparameter approach to the estimation of linear functions
    Paris-Singapore-Tokyo Workshop, online. Invited talk. Slides

2019

  • Bayesian multiparameter quantum metrology
    Exeter. Slides

  • Bayesian quantum metrology for time estimation
    IOP 2019 Topical Research Meeting on Time, London. Poster

2018

  • Multi-phase quantum estimation in the regime of limited data
    Quantum Talks, Sussex. Slides

  • Extracting maximum information from limited data
    Photon 2018, Birmingham. Slides

Current teaching

Lecture materials

  • Variational principles in quantum sensing
    Somerset retreat for PhD students and postdocs – Spring 2022. Slides

Past teaching

University of Surrey: Statics – Autumn 2023

University of Exeter: Mathematical Skills – Autumn 2022

University of Sussex:

  • Foundations Mathematics A – Autumn 2018
  • Quantum Mechanics I – Spring 2017 and 2018
  • Modern Physics – Autumn 2016
  • Classical Physics – Spring 2016
  • Atomic Physics – Autumn 2015 and 2017

Complutense University of Madrid: Mathematical Methods II – Spring 2013

Biography

Jesús is a Theoretical Physicist and a Surrey Future Fellow.

After completing the Spanish Baccalaureate, he earned a Licenciatura degree at the Complutense University of Madrid and an MSc at the Institute for Theoretical Physics of Madrid, specialising in particle physics, cosmology, and quantum information theory. He was then awarded a SEPnet scholarship to pursue his doctorate at the University of Sussex, where he wrote his thesis on quantum optics and Bayesian metrology under the supervision of Jacob Dunningham. Upon receiving his PhD in 2019, he joined the group of Janet Anders at the University of Exeter as a postdoctoral researcher, developing global thermometry as a new subfield of quantum thermodynamics.

In 2022, Jesús was awarded a Surrey Future Fellowship. His research on quantum sensing, metrology, and estimation aims to harness quantum technologies as a framework to answer fundamental questions in physics.

Memberships

Jesús is a Member of Institute of Physics (MInstP) and Fellow of Advance HE (FHEA).

Academic service

Jesús is a reviewer for APS Physics and IOP Publishing. He has received the Outstanding Reviewer Award 2021 for J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. and holds IOP Trusted Reviewer Status.

In 2021, he co-created TIQuR 2021, an online workshop for early career researchers on thermodynamics and information in the quantum regime.

In 2018, Jesús served as PhD tutor for The Brilliant Club.