Research Focus Areas

Quantum sensing of quantum materials has sparked tremendous excitement within the scientific community and beyond. By employing quantum technologies to probe and understand the intricate properties of quantum materials at atomic and subatomic scales, researchers can unveil unprecedented insights into their behavior, functionalities, and potential applications. QMSI researchers are heavily involved in unlocking the secrets of diverse quantum materials. Our nanoscale scanning quantum sensing system reaches unparalleled sensitivity and precision, enabling the detection of subtle quantum phenomena that were previously elusive. This capability opens doors to new frontiers in materials science, allowing for the development of novel materials with tailored properties for advanced technologies such as superconductors, topological insulators, and quantum information systems. The promise of quantum sensing lies not only in enhancing our fundamental understanding of quantum materials but also in catalyzing transformative innovations across diverse fields, and propelling technological advancements into the future. 

Recent developments in topological and 2D materials research have brought forth exciting advancements with profound implications for various fields of science and technology. Topological materials, such as topological insulators and topological superconductors, have emerged as promising candidates for realizing robust quantum states and novel electronic phenomena. QMSI researchers have been at the forefront of discoveries and technology development using these materials which exhibit unique surface states that are protected against disorder, making them highly desirable for applications in quantum computing, spintronics, and low-power electronics. Similarly, our research continues to explore and exploit new physical properties of graphene and other 2D materials like transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), which exhibit diverse properties such as semiconducting behavior, strong light-matter interactions, and potential applications in optoelectronics and flexible electronics. Going beyond twisted bilayer graphene, QMSI researchers have demonstrated novel heterocrystals and other heterointegrated 2D layers that demonstrate unusual electronic phases and hold enormous potential as atomically-thin sensors, memory devices, and other applications.

QMSI researchers are also keenly interested in developing the next generation computing, algorithms, and architecture. Recent research in quantum algorithms and architectures has seen significant strides towards realizing practical quantum computing capabilities. Researchers are actively exploring new quantum algorithms that promise speedups in diverse applications, including cryptography, machine learning, and material science simulations. In parallell, efforts in quantum hardware architectures are focusing on improving qubit coherence times, minimizing error rates, and scaling up the number of qubits. Superconducting qubit platforms, ion trap technologies, and topological qubits are at the forefront, each offering unique advantages in terms of qubit stability, scalability, and error correction capabilities. Innovations in qubit connectivity and control, coupled with advancements in cryogenic and control systems, are paving the way towards building larger and more reliable quantum computers. Of great interest are hybrid approaches integrating classical and quantum systems, allowing for more efficient processing and error correction strategies. Research also delves into quantum simulation techniques to model complex quantum systems and materials, offering insights into fundamental physics and chemistry phenomena that are challenging to simulate with classical computers. 

Exciting developments in quantum optics, photonics, and plasmonics are revolutionizing multiple fields including quantum information science, sensing, detection, networks, interconnects, and communications. Quantum optics has advanced the creation of highly efficient single photon sources and detectors, critical for secure quantum communication via protocols like quantum key distribution (QKD) and scalable quantum computing platforms utilizing photons as carriers of quantum information. Researchers at QMSI are advancing next generation quantum technologies by developing highly integrated photonic systems for error-free quantum control. Integrated photonics has enabled compact and scalable devices such as photonic integrated circuits (PICs), facilitating complex quantum circuits for photon generation, manipulation, and detection on a single chip. Meanwhile, plasmonics manipulates surface plasmons to confine light into nanoscale dimensions, enhancing light-matter interactions and enabling ultra-compact photonic devices for sensitive sensing applications in biosensing, environmental monitoring, and quantum metrology. These innovations collectively impact quantum information science by enabling the manipulation of entangled photon pairs for computing and communication tasks, enhancing sensor resolution for detecting biomolecules and gases, optimizing quantum network efficiency, and ensuring secure quantum communications over long distances, paving the way for advanced quantum technologies in the future. 

QMSI is leveraging the unparalleled innovations in data sciences to rapidly accelerate the discovery of novel science and engineering innovations at all levels. Machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and data science are transforming quantum materials, devices, and sensing applications through several innovative avenues. In materials discovery, ML and AI analyze vast datasets of material properties and quantum interactions to predict new materials with specific behaviors like superconductivity or topological properties, accelerating discovery processes. In device optimization, these technologies enhance qubit configurations, coherence times, and reliability by simulating complex quantum systems more efficiently than classical methods, facilitating robust quantum circuit designs. ML and AI also bolster quantum sensing accuracy by extracting subtle patterns from sensor data, advancing fields such as quantum metrology and medical diagnostics. Moreover, data science techniques uncover correlations between experimental parameters and material properties, guiding hypothesis generation and experimental design to expedite scientific breakthroughs. Automation of experimental workflows and scalable data analysis further streamline research efforts, paving the way for widespread deployment of quantum technologies across scientific and industrial applications.