IQUIST

Nature, at the scale of atoms, is governed by quantum mechanics. While we can peek into this realm with powerful microscopes, much of it remains obscured because of heat. Signature quantum features like superposition and entanglement are extremely delicate when it comes to temperature changes — they dissipate like water droplets on a hot summer day. For scientists, this presents a conundrum: devices that harness the elusive world of quantum could revolutionize technology but attempts to reach into that world are riddled with obstacles.

Real-world materials are usually messier than the idealized scenarios found in textbooks. Imperfections can add complications and even limit a material’s usefulness. To get around this, scientists routinely strive to remove defects and dirt entirely, pushing materials closer to perfection. Now, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have turned this problem around and shown that for some materials defects could act as a probe for interesting physics, rather than a nuisance. 

A group of scientists from five universities across the Midwest will lead an effort to redesign quantum science education, working together with industry and national laboratories to develop a diverse, capable and effective quantum workforce.

The rapidly evolving field of quantum information science will enable transformative technologies that will have significant impact on our economy and society. Reaching that promise, however, requires developing a large quantum-ready workforce that can meet the existing and growing demand for skilled workers across the communications, optics, computing, and materials industries.

The Grainger College of Engineering’s Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center (IQUIST) is a partner institution in two of the five Department of Energy Quantum Information Science Research Centers, announced by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy on August 26.