Pittsburgh Quantum Institute

The Pittsburgh Quantum Institute[1][2][3][4][5] (PQI) is a multidisciplinary research institute that focuses on quantum sciences and engineering in the Pittsburgh region. It is a research-intensive cluster.

Pittsburgh Quantum Institute
Former names
Pitt Quantum Initiative (2012–2013)
Established2012 (2012)
DirectorDr. Jeremy Levy
Location
Pittsburgh
,
Pennsylvania
,
U.S.
Websitewww.pqi.org

The Pittsburgh Quantum Institute (PQI) was founded in 2012 with the mission “to help unify and promote quantum science and engineering in Pittsburgh”. With financial support from the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, PQI provides leadership throughout Pittsburgh in areas that impact the “second quantum revolution”.

PQI members have faculty appointments from Duquesne University, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Pittsburgh in physics, chemistry, and engineering disciplines.[6] The Pittsburgh Quantum Institute currently consists of 100 professors and their groups, a number that keeps growing every year with faculty appointments in the various departments of the member institutions.

PQI sponsors and organizes research seminars, panel discussions, public lectures, and outreach activities, and a signature event (PQI20XX in April) that brings in a dozen plenary speakers and a public lecture.

PQI supports graduate students with research and travel awards, and sponsors two well-attended poster sessions per year. The PQI website (www.pqi.org) highlights research and researchers, hosts multiple videos, and provides a regular feed of information relevant to the PQI community.

PQI also coordinates with other important centers and facilities (Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, Petersen Institute for Nanoscience and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University Nanofabrication Facility, and the Center for Research Computing).

Basic scientific research

"Quantum" comes from the Latin meaning "how much." It refers to the discrete units of matter and energy that make up every single object in the universe. The laws of physics that govern objects on a macroscopic scale are well understood, both scientifically and intuitively. At atomic and sub-atomic scales, these “classical” laws break down. At the turn of the twentieth century, a series of scientific crises challenged our perception of the world. What emerged from this period of scientific turmoil was the development of quantum mechanics, a theory that is as strange as it is precise in predicting the behavior of matter, the nature of chemical bonds, and the properties of materials like semiconductors and superconductors.

Quantum mechanics is the firm foundation on which all of physical science rests. It is the study of a system in terms of its most fundamental (and tiny) constituents such as electrons, neutrons, photons: particles that also act like waves—or is it waves having the properties of particles? On this atomic scale, which is governed by Planck's constant, the properties of a system are very different than that of bulk matter. This diverging behavior leads to emerging phenomena that cannot be explained or accounted for in classical terms.

Quantum mechanics can thus predict or explain a variety of phenomena in a variety of systems, from the well established photoelectric effect to the transmission of information via entangled quantum objects. These phenomena arise from the concepts of quantum mechanics; for instance, the wave-particle duality allows electron to tunnel through classically unsurmountable barriers, the condensation of electrons into Cooper pairs, which is the basis of superconductivity, is made possible only because of Pauli's exclusion principle. In addition, previously inaccessible states of matter such as photonic matter or topological insulators are being explored for applications that can revolutionize the modern world.

All those quantum phenomena and many more are the basis of technologies that are surreptitiously invading our daily life. Quantum mechanics is what drives lasers or determines the bonding of a drug to a protein. It is the basis of light-matter interactions and spectroscopic techniques.

Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and Duquesne University work in diverse fields of physics, chemistry, and engineering towards a wide range of applications. They investigate surfaces and heterojunctions, quantum dots and potential energy surfaces, non-linear optical systems and entangled qubits. They postulate, develop, fabricate, characterize, calculate. The Pittsburgh Quantum Institute was founded to bring together those key players of the quantum scene in a unified yet diverse community for the promotion of quantum research.

Quantum Chemistry

Theoretical chemistry is thus a powerful tool that allow to either explain experimental measurements or to predict behaviors that have yet to be observed. Researchers at the Pittsburgh Quantum Institute use and refine these tools and apply them to the study of a variety of phenomena and systems. Methodological development is an important research thrust at PQI; for instance, stochastic approaches such as the diffusion Monte Carlo method and Energy Decomposition Analysis are developed at PQI.

Dynamics simulations are used to model the evolution of the system in time, with applications in biochemistry or biophysics, where transport of ions in biological channels or protein folding and binding can be investigated. Computational drug design is also one of the most representative application of computational chemistry, as thousands of compounds can be easily and quickly screened for compatibility in terms of structure and energetics. Similarly, the vast configuration space of materials structure and properties can be explored through simulations towards the building of functional devices from the bottom up, the design of electrolytes for next generation batteries, the identification of biomaterials for energy storage and separation applications, or the characterization of optimal structures for organic and hybrid solar cells.

PQI researchers study the fundamental chemical forces controlling the composition, atomic structure, and optoelectronic properties of nanoparticles for environmental remediation and catalysis applications. Another research thrust is the use of various analytical methods to investigate the mechanism for enantioselectivity between chiral samples such as thin films and peptides. Similarly, the capabilities of the ion-trap mass spectrometer are used to elucidate the structure, determine the relative stability, and probe the general patterns in chemical reactivity of gas-phase metal ion complexes.

Quantum Computing

PQI researchers work on various aspects of quantum computing and information. Development in information theory as well as in quantum algorithms is carried out. Qubit platforms, such as superconducting microwave circuits and Majorana Fermions in semiconducting nanowires are designed for quantum computing. Quantum simulation is another approach to quantum computing; the experimental thrust is the design of a 1D solid state quantum simulation platform that can be controlled on the nanoscale, while a theoretical approach consists of the development of powerful numerical methods that would open the door to faster, more accurate simulations of various novel and exotic quantum systems on a classical computer.

Quantum Engineering

Memory devices

To repeatedly write, store, and retrieve data on memory devices, those must be non-volatile, i.e., they must retain the information even when the power source is turned off. Those devices should also have fast writing speeds and read-access times as well as an ideally infinite number of read-write cycles. In addition, they would be portable, durable, and resistant to a variety of mishaps. PQI researchers are involved in the synthesis of novel electronic materials such as binary and complex oxides, amorphous chalcogenide alloys, and 2D materials. They use state-of-the art techniques such as Molecular Beam Epitaxy, nano-lithography, sputtering, or Pulsed Laser Deposition to fabricate devices for data storage applications.

Sensors

With the miniaturization of all electronic devices and the advances in nano-technology, sensors are becoming increasingly smaller and efficient. On the nanoscale, sensors can be designed to make use of the emerging electrical, mechanical, chemical, catalytic, and optical properties that arise from their quantum mechanical behavior. PQI researchers design new specialty optical fibers and develop new distributed fiber sensing schemes based on novel piezoelectric materials, whose shape is modified in response to an electric field, for applications as sensors for energy, safety, and structural health monitoring.

Solar cells

Solar cells are devices that convert the energy from sunlight to electrical current; they are therefore also called photovoltaic cells. They hold great promise as a source of renewable and clean energy and would help address the growing energy demands worldwide. PQI researchers design and fabricate solar cells consisting of various materials that exhibit exceptional transport properties that arise from ingenious novel structures. Computational methodologies are also developed towards the rational design of novel organic solar cell materials.

Quantum Matter and Phenomena

Condensed Matter Theory

PQI researchers work towards the prediction or characterization of quantum matter and quantum phenomena. They have expertise in the properties of ultracold atomic systems, the dynamics of quantum many-body systems, topological phenomena arising from spin-orbit coupling and many-body interactions, and the simulation of quantum systems.

Computational Physics

Statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and computer simulations are also used to investigate the structure, stability and properties of novel materials, such as high-entropy alloys, liquid metals, and quasicrystals. Methodological developments, for instance in relativistic multiple scattering theory and high performance computing, in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center.

Quantum Phenomena

From an experimental perspective, PQI researchers study the quantum behavior of various systems such as superconductivity, fractionalization of charge, and crystallization in van der Waals heterostructures; the collective behavior of nanoparticle arrays in which superparamagnetic-to-ferromagnetic and insulator-to-metal phase transitions are expected to arise; the structural and electronic properties of semiconductor materials and devices via scanning tunneling microscope; and electrically-controlled ferromagnetism at the interface of complex oxides. They also aim at developing a tool box based on nuclear magnetic resonance, quantum optics, quantum information science, chemistry, and nanoscience for the quantum control of condensed matter systems.

Quantum Optics

Research at the Pittsburgh Quantum Institute has yielded a number of exciting outcomes in the fields of optics and photonics, including flexible lightwave circuits in glass substrates, nonlinear optical topological insulators, and highly symmetrical and low-loss optical waveguides in flexible glass substrates that are thermally stable at high temperatures.

Spectroscopic techniques such as fluorescence spectroscopy, 2-dimensional-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, 2-photon photoemission spectroscopy are used to probe various systems ranging from ionic liquids to polymers to metal surfaces.

Philosophy and Education

PQI counts among its numbers faculty members whose area of expertise are in history and philosophy of physics with emphases on relativity, quantum theory, statistical physics, chaos theory, and thermodynamical irreversibility. The crucial and decisive role of mathematics in the formation and application of physical theories is also investigated. In addition, our researchers are also interested in the broader topics of the philosophy of science, such as issues of causality, time, non-locality, and ontology, approaches to confirmation theory, inconsistency in theories, and thought experiments, with a special interest in Einstein's body of work on special and general relativity.

Quantum mechanics is intrinsically non-intuitive, with concepts that greatly differ from the principles of the classical world we navigate in. Those concepts may be hard to grasp and even harder to explain. PQI member Chandralekha Singh investigates pedagogical approaches for the teaching of quantum mechanics at an undergraduate and at an advance level. Moreover, close ties with local Taylor Allderdice High School offer opportunities to PQI faculty to promote quantum sciences and engineering to the next generation, and to the high school students to sneak a peek during outreach events into the daily lives of a quantum scientist.

Scientific Outreach

PQI faculty and student members participate by delivering lectures at the annual PQI symposium as well as participating in other external events where they showcase their research in an effort to promote quantum sciences. The institute is also involved in outreach programs that target high schools, undergraduate colleges, and the general public.

In addition to hosting guest speakers from around the world in the field of quantum science, PQI hosts or participates in a number of notable Pittsburgh educational events:

  • PQI2018
  • Science2017 - poster session [7]
  • PQI2017: Quantum Revolutions [8]
  • Women in Quantum Science and Engineering Lecture Series [9]
  • Science2016: Game Changers - poster session [10][11]
  • PQI2016: Quantum Challenges[12]
  • Science2015: Unleashed! - poster session[13]
  • PQI2015: Quantum Coherence
  • PQI2014: Quantum Technologies
  • PQI2013: Quantum Matter

History

Initially defined as the Pitt Quantum Initiative, PQI was established in 2012[1][14] to help unify and promote quantum science and engineering in Pittsburgh.[1][14] The Pitt Quantum Initiative was supported and funded by the Office of the Provost for Research of the University of Pittsburgh. Then vice-provost Dr. George Klinzing acted with cofounders Drs. Jeremy Levy[15][16][17][18] and Andrew Daley to officially launch the initiative in September 2012. PQI finally became institutionalized in 2014.

“Quantum physics is an area where Pitt not only has a well-established reputation, but where its strength and reputation are growing rapidly with the introduction of many new groups over the course of the last few years,” said PQI advisory committee member Andrew Daley, then assistant professor in Pitt’s Department of Physics and Astronomy.[1]

Organization

Staff offices for the Pittsburgh Quantum Institute currently occupy space in the historic Thaw Hall [19] on the University of Pittsburgh's campus. During its inception, PQI staff shared workspace with Dr. Jeremy Levy's research group[15] until dedicated office space was provisioned in the summer of 2015.

PQI faculty and students reside in the offices and laboratories provided by their respective parent universities.

Executive Board

The executive board,[19] led by director Dr. Jeremy Levy, includes a dozen faculty from all three institutions, as well as Dr. Andrew Daley, who kept his honorary cofounder seat despite moving his lab to the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, in the fall of 2013.

The PQI logo [20] was designed using the widely used Dirac notation, which makes it instantaneously recognizable by the quantum community.

References
  1. Webteam, University of Pittsburgh University Marketing Communications. "Affiliations | Physics and Astronomy | University of Pittsburgh". physicsandastronomy.pitt.edu. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  2. "Pittsburgh Quantum Institute (PQI), United States of America (USA) | Institution outputs | Nature Index". www.natureindex.com. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  3. "SSOE - The Pittsburgh Quantum Institute". www.engineering.pitt.edu. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  4. "Pittsburgh Quantum Institute – IQIM". iqim.caltech.edu. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  5. jht. "UltraCold Atom News - PQI 2017". ucan.physics.utoronto.ca. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  6. "Members Directory | Pittsburgh Quantum Institute". www.pqi.org. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  7. "Science 2017". www.science.pitt.edu. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  8. jht. "UltraCold Atom News - PQI 2017". ucan.physics.utoronto.ca. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  9. "Year of Diversity at PQI | Pittsburgh Quantum Institute". www.pqi.org. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  10. Webteam, University of Pittsburgh University Marketing Communications. "PQI Poster Session at Science 2016 | Physics and Astronomy | University of Pittsburgh". www.physicsandastronomy.pitt.edu. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  11. "Science 2016—Game Changers". www.science.pitt.edu. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  12. "Pqi2016 Huili Grace Xing Progress Toward Thin-tfet A 2d Material Based Transistor". World News. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  13. "Science 2015—Unleashed!". www.science.pitt.edu. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  14. "The Pittsburgh Quantum Institute (PQI)". www.pitt.edu. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  15. "LevyLab research group".
  16. "'Swing-dancing' pairs of electrons discovered". ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  17. "New discovery could pave way for spin-based computing: Novel oxide-based magnetism follows electrical commands". ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  18. Webteam, University of Pittsburgh University Marketing Communications. "Jeremy Levy | Physics and Astronomy | University of Pittsburgh". physicsandastronomy.pitt.edu. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  19. "About Us | Pittsburgh Quantum Institute". www.pqi.org. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  20. "Logo | Pittsburgh Quantum Institute". www.pqi.org. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.