Mission

By linking the unique capabilities of the national labs with leading university investigators, the Quantum Science Center (QSC) is advancing the science of quantum materials, sensors, and algorithms in ways impossible through other means.

In order to accelerate innovation, researchers need new technologies to accurately predict, detect, and model complex phenomena such as energy generation and efficiency, national security, new materials discovery, and fundamental physics. This opportunity now exists by developing a new generation of technologies that exploits quantum mechanics to deliver much-needed advances in computation and sensing. The QSC located at ORNL is dedicated to overcoming key roadblocks in quantum state resilience, controllability, and ultimately the scalability of quantum technologies to realize the quantum future.

Integral to the activities of the QSC is the development of the next generation of scientists and engineers; by actively engaging students and postdoctoral associates in research activities, the Center offers a rich environment for professional development. Further, by working in close conjunction with industry from its inception, the QSC strongly couples its basic science foundation and technology development pathways to transition applications to the private sector.

Scientific Thrusts

The QSC is organized into three thrusts to meet its overarching goal. Each thrust comprises specific aims that address closely linked research areas designed to balance lower-risk, near-term goals that leverage existing quantum technologies to probe, simulate, and improve understanding of quantum phenomena with long-term goals of achieving revolutionary breakthroughs in topological protection and manipulation of quantum information.

Thrust 1: Quantum Materials Discovery and Development

Thrust 1 demonstrates and controls non-Abelian anyon states relevant to Quantum Information Science (QIS) in real materials. These states are expected to exist in electronic materials with nontrivial topologies and magnetic systems with entangled quantum spins, and the topological protection and delocalization of the states that make them attractive for QIS applications can also make them difficult to probe and to understand. Thus, research in this thrust is focused on understanding and developing topological electronic materials, quantum spin systems, and quantum probes.

Led by ORNL’s Michael McGuire

Thrust 2: Quantum Algorithms and Simulation

Thrust 2 achieves predictive capabilities for the study of strongly coupled quantum systems, including topological systems and quantum field theories, and develops and tests quantum algorithms for quantum-limited sensors. QSC researchers are developing efficient, scalable, and robust quantum simulation and metrology algorithms, testing these algorithms in predictive dynamical quantum simulation and quantum sensing applications, and developing software tools to support algorithm analysis, optimization, and implementation.

Led by LANL’s Andrew Sornborger

Thrust 3: Quantum Devices and Sensors for Discovery Science

Thrust 3 develops an understanding of fundamental sensing mechanisms in high-performance quantum devices and sensors. This understanding allows QSC researchers, working across the Center, to co-design new quantum devices and sensors with improved energy resolution, lower energy detection thresholds, better spatial and temporal resolution, lower noise, and lower error rates. Going beyond proof-of-principle demonstrations, the focus is on implementation of this hardware in specific, real-world applications.

Led by Fermilab’s Aaron Chou

Supplementary Materials

QSC Fact Sheet

QSC Trifold

NQISRC Brochure

NQISRC Highlights Brochure

The QSC integrates research across its three thrusts to establish co-design approaches for scalable and coherent quantum information systems. This integration drives interactions between the specific aims of each thrust and establishes a co-design feedback loop. The industrial “pull” for new technologies in quantum simulation and quantum sensing in turn drives this co-design process and provides a direct path to connect these technologies to the marketplace.

For licensing inquiries please contact Mike Paulus or Eugene Cochrane.

The QSC integrates four levels of the S&T innovation chain to transition discoveries to computing and sensing systems.

Fundamental science

Basic research underpins discoveries and innovation to deliver long-term impacts

Devices

Applied science builds new paradigms and devices for next-gen quantum technologies

Prototypes

First uses drive development and feedback for improved solutions

Applications

Real-world solutions accelerate the impact of quantum tech

Systems

Technology transfer
Integration of solutions into commercial systems to bolster US economic competitiveness

Topologically protected quantum information co-design

Led by LANL’s Filip Ronning

Fundamental science

fundamental science
Co-design materials for anyon physics using feedback from materials and algorithms thrusts

Devices

Develop devices to probe anyons physics using feedback from materials and devices thrusts

Prototypes

TISC scructure
Test anyon fusion and braiding using feedback between materials and algorithms thrusts

Applications

Validate non-Abelian statistics using feedback between materials and algorithms thrusts

Technology transfer

Error-resistant quantum devices
Transition discoveries in quantum materials to new qubits

Quantum simulations of scientific applications co-design

Led by UCSB’s David Weld

Fundamental science

Co-design simulation methods using feedback between materials, algorithms, and devices

Devices

Develop analog simulations using feedback between algorithms and devices

Prototypes

Test analog quantum simulation using feedback from materials, algorithms, and devices

Applications

Validate quantum simulations using feedback between materials and algorithms

Technology transfer

Quantum simulation platforms
Transition discoveries in quantum devices to new quantum computing applications

Quantum sensing for real-world applications co-design

Led by FNAL’s Daniel Bowring

Fundamental science

Co-design sensors using feedback between materials, algorithms, and devices

Devices

Develop new qubits using feedback from materials and simulations thrusts

Prototypes

Test detection of waves of dark matter between algorithms and devices

Applications

Validate surface state measurements using feedback between materials and devices

Technology transfer

Quantum sensing capabilities
Transition discoveries in sensor design to new applications in materials characterization and dark matter searches