Quantum Community – How Livermore is Supercharging Quantum Science by Building Collaboration

Quantum science, and in particular quantum computing, is becoming increasingly dominant within physics, but also in the broader sciences and beyond. With the promise of a true quantum computer ever closer, the potential impact of quantum science is also increasing. But to both discover application areas and bring them to maturity takes collaboration across many disciplines – and this goal is at the heart of the Livermore Center for Quantum Science.

The Livermore Center for Quantum Science is based at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and shares its goal of cultivating science in the national interest by facilitating collaboration and building a shared language between physicists, mathematicians, materials scientists, and computer scientists. Though the national lab has a long history of research into quantum science - home at one time to quantum mechanics pioneer John Clauser - the Center was founded just over a year ago, but it’s already bringing researchers together on a wide range of projects.

Livermore’s major focus is experimental quantum physics using superconducting systems, and from dilution refrigerators to fabrication facilities is well equipped to drive this work. The Quantum Design and Integration Testbed at Livermore is integral to understanding how we get to a useful quantum computer, allowing for physicists and materials scientists to experiment with different types of quantum device, and work to understand and model why some devices able to maintain stable Qubits and others don’t. One approach the team is working on is the use of Two Level Systems, which seeks to model the noise in quantum systems.

Alongside experimentalists, theory groups are already making gains on real world applications for quantum computers. One key role of Livermore is stewardship of the nuclear stockpile – but modelling nuclear systems requires accurately requires an incredible amount of computing power, with many interactions between known nuclei still impossible to calculate. But through collaborations with experimentalists in the Quantum Coherent Devices group, using the Quantum Design and Integration Testbed, nuclear theorists are working on new quantum computing algorithms that could change the game for this work.

Beyond computing, quantum phenomena are central to other research areas, allowing researchers in other disciplines to make new discoveries. Entangled light can be used to ensure cleaner signals when probing biological systems where traditional microscopy introduces noise, and a new setup called ghost imaging is being used to probe the host-bacteria interactions involved in biofuel production.

It's projects like this that are essential in Livermore’s aim to be a key player not just in building quantum computers but in using quantum science ways that benefit the nation. By bringing together researchers, as well as facilitating the next generation of quantum scientists by giving them hands on experience, Livermore Center for Quantum Science will be integral to the future of quantum science.

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