SQMS Center

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Nanofabrication Taskforce

SQMS has established the first national Nanofabrication Taskforce, bringing together qubit fabrication experts from Fermilab, NIST, Northwestern, and Rigetti Computing. This taskforce focuses on making devices with new standard processes and verifying the reproducibility of results across four different state-of-the-art foundries.

Materials

By studying performance differences of state-of-the-art qubits with the world's most advanced materials and superconducting characterization techniques, together with modeling efforts, the Center is building a hierarchy of loss mechanisms that informs how to fabricate the next generation of high-coherence qubits and processors.

Device Performance

The Device Performance sub-thrust focuses on advancing qubit coherence through improvements in materials, device design, and measurement protocols across both 2D and 3D devices. We translate these gains into scalable quantum processor architectures, targeting performance that exceeds the current state of the art.

Superconducting Properties

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Cryogenics

Scaling dilution refrigeration technology to meet the higher cooling power and reliability demands of future quantum data centers.

Systems Design

The Systems Design sub-thrust advances scalable SRF-cavity-based quantum hardware through integrated system engineering and novel control schemes. We design and build quantum processing units that combine long-lived quantum memories with ancillary qubits and couplers, along with the wiring, filtering, and thermalization needed for cryogenic operation. We also develop high-fidelity state preparation, entanglement, and measurement protocols that enable robust quantum information processing.

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Computing Use Cases

The Computing Use Cases sub-thrust develops near-term quantum computing applications tailored to realistic hardware constraints, with the goal of demonstrating credible proof-of-concept quantum advantage. Beginning with simplified, well-characterized problems, the group advances toward real-world–inspired use cases that connect experimental capabilities to scientifically and technologically relevant computational tasks.

Middleware, Software Stack

The Middleware Sub-Thrust focuses on providing control software and algorithms for the 3D and 2D QPU. This sub-thrust lies between theory and hardware to ensure they progress together. 

Low-Level RF Engineering

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Magnetometry for Materials

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Architecture and Resource Estimates

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Quantum / Classical Demonstrations

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Magnetometry for Materials

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Qudit Theory and Error Correction

The Qudit Theory & Error Correction sub-thrust focuses on developing qudit-based quantum computers, exploring how these higher-dimensional quantum states can be leveraged for computation. This research area would particularly concentrate on designing error correction codes and fault-tolerant protocols specifically tailored to qudit systems, which may offer advantages like more efficient error correction, reduced overhead, or novel computational capabilities compared to qubit-based approaches.

HEP/CMP Quantum Simulations

The Condensed Matter and High Energy Physics Applications sub-thrust is focused on designing quantum simulation protocols to meet the emerging capabilities of SQMS hardware. We study topics ranging from lattice gauge theory to materials science to quantum chaos with the goal of addressing fundamental scientific questions with qudit-based architectures.

Experimental Tests of Quantum Theory

Testing quantum mechanics is an endeavor of the highest scientific priority because quantum mechanics serves as the bedrock for all of modern physics. The theory defines the boundaries of what is technologically possible, governing the rules of quantum computing and sensing. Because the theory is so foundational, any deviation from standard quantum mechanics would be revolutionary. It would fundamentally alter our conception of the laws of nature and the engineering capabilities that follow from them. Consequently, funding tests of quantum mechanics is not merely about verifying an old theory; it is about probing the structural integrity of our understanding of the universe.

Sensing for Particle Physics

The Sensing for Particle Physics sub-thrust focuses on advancing the discovery potential of fundamental physics searches, including Beyond the Standard Model physics, dark sector searches, and high-frequency gravitational waves. This effort leverages quantum sensing techniques based on state-of-the-art superconducting cavities and quantum devices, both in dedicated experiments and in synergy with the 3D computing platforms.