The biweekly Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE) seminar series will bring together researchers from academia, federal and national labs, industries, and non-profit organizations to discuss topics relevant to QISE. The impact of the QISE seminar series will be many-fold, ranging from fostering multidisciplinary collaborations with both internal (SU) and external researchers to training the next generation of scientists and engineers. All members of the SU community will be invited to attend, and the speaker list will include SU and non-SU researchers as well as open-ended discussions of topics. Seminars will be held in the Center for Science and Technology (CST) 4-201 from 12:00 – 1:00 PM. Pizza (lunch) will be provided. For some seminars, the location and time may change due to conflicts.
Dr. Jha acknowledges funding from Syracuse University’s Office of Research through the Faculty Creative Activities and Research (FCAR) Grant Program.
Fall 2024 Seminar:
[10/04/2024] Engineering Challenges for the Emerging Quantum Networks
Speaker: Prof. Prem Kumar, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northwestern University
Abstract: Quantum internet of the future will require device functionalities that implicitly respect the fundamental facts such as quantum information cannot be copied and cannot be measured precisely. A quantum repeater, for example—analog of an optical amplifier that enabled global reach of the ubiquitous Internet connectivity we enjoy today—is yet to be demonstrated, although recent years have seen tremendous progress. Many other device functionalities—switches, routers, format converters, etc.—would also be needed that do not unnecessarily disturb or corrupt the quantum information as it flows from one node of the internet to another. In recent years, my group has engineered many quantum tools and techniques that fulfill the requirements for distributing quantum information in a networked environment. In this talk, I will present our motivation, design, construction, characterization, and utilization of some example techniques for near-term networked quantum applications.
[09/16/2024] Enhancing Quantum Sensors and Engineering Photonic Crystals
Speaker: Prof. Rodrick K. Defo, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University
Abstract: The nitrogen-vacancy center (NV-), a point defect in diamond consisting of a substitutional N atom adjacent to a single carbon vacancy with an additional electron, has the potential to revolutionize magnetic and electric field sensing. In this talk, I will discuss a key insight that enhances the accuracy of the electric fields sensed by ensembles of NV- centers by allowing for the quantification of the contribution from the leading source of noise in the electric field measurements. The insight is that the Fermi level (the electronic chemical potential) behaves in some cases as a manifestly local quantity rather than as uniform throughout a crystal sample, an assumption commonly employed in materials computations. The insight was also used to accurately determine timescales for charge-state decay of ionized color centers in diamond with applications in quantum computation, quantum communication, and quantum sensing. I will conclude with a discussion of recent work to investigate the approach to equilibrium of the Fermi level in semiconductors and results regarding the engineering of photonic bandgaps, which finds application in increasing the efficiency of light transmission in fiber-optic cables.
SPRING 2024 Seminar
[06/13/2024] Two-dimensional SNSPDs Leading the Next Wave of Innovations from Quantum Communications to Astronomy
Speaker: Jagi Rout, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University
Abstract: Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have emerged as a revolutionary technology in photon detection, boasting unparalleled sensitivity and speed. These detectors utilize thin, superconducting nanowires to detect single photons with high efficiency and low timing jitter, making them indispensable in a variety of applications, from quantum information processing to astronomical observations. Fe-based dichalcogenides is one of the promising material groups for fabricating Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detectors (SNSPDs) having higher transition temperatures. They operate based on the principle of photon-induced superconductivity quenching.
Here, we will discuss how SNSPDs can change our future insight. It is fascinating because these detectors are at the forefront of numerous technological and scientific advancements. Their unparalleled capabilities in photon detection are driving innovations across various domains, from quantum technologies to medical imaging, communication, and beyond. As research and development in this field continue, the potential applications and benefits of SNSPDs are likely to expand, further transforming our world in ways we can only begin to imagine. Such devices serve as essential components in the perpetual pursuit of faster and smaller computers. We explore the detection and manipulation of photons at single photon level that are the fundamentals of advancement towards an integrated on-chip photonic device for practical quantum information processing systems.
[03/04/2024] Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Research Presentations
Quantum Coins, Walks, and Blind Diffusion
Speaker: John C. Vining III, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University
Abstract: Quantum walks have frequently envisioned the behavior of a quantum state traversing a classically defined graph. Previous models typically require full knowledge of the graph to construct the unitary enabling us to control their evolution. This approach has already generated significant results, but its dependence on full knowledge is a significant limitation. We examine state diffusion on arbitrary graphs, that is the circulation of states within a graph, framing the multi-walker problem as a finite quantum cellular automaton. Each vertex update is accomplished by a unitary transformation on the state of vertex and its direct neighbors’ walker and coin states.
Beyond Traditional Limits in Electrically Thins Electromagmetic Absorbers
Speaker: Pardha S. Nayani, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University
Abstract: The swift advancement of defense, telecommunication, and energy harvesting systems poses technological challenges, requiring the integration of electromagnetic absorbers into smaller spaces. From a practical point of view, there is an ever-growing demand for thinner absorbing layers that provide higher absorption bandwidths. However, the thinner these absorbers get, the narrower absorption bandwidth they provide. Several fundamental physical upper limits on bandwidth-to-thickness ratio are defined previously in literature for these absorbers. Here, we will present a new design concept based on dispersion engineering for ultimately thin absorbers that can provide several-fold higher absorption bandwidth compared to conventional design approaches.
Unveiling Valley Pseudospin in 2D Materials: Towards Novel Quantum Technologies
Speaker: Dr. Aswini K. Pattanayak, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University
Abstract: Two-dimensional materials unlock a novel degree of freedom beyond traditional charge and spin properties: the valley. This valley pseudospin can be manipulated optically using the helicity of light, opening new possibilities for advancements in quantum information processing, light-based technologies, and quantum devices. I will present a new approach to exploring spin-valley physics in this presentation. This involves generating excitons at higher momentum states, which can be controlled by the topological charge of structured light beams at near-resonant excitation. Furthermore, I will discuss the potential of 2D superconductors for photodetector applications.
[02/19/2024] Superconducting qubits: Basic design principles and crucial performance challenges
Speaker: Prof. Ivan V. Pechenezhskiy, Department of Physics, Syracuse University
Abstract: Superconducting qubits are one of the leading platforms for quantum information processing thanks to the non-dissipative non-linearity that the Josephson effect provides. Among various superconducting qubit designs, transmon and fluxonium qubits are of choice for many academic and industry labs. While numerous milestones toward building quantum processing units with arrays of transmon qubits have been recently achieved, the path toward fully functional, practically useful quantum computers remains thorny. In the first half of the talk, I will review the basic ideas that led to the development of transmon and fluxonium qubits, compare these two essential designs, and discuss the critical challenges the field currently faces. This will provide the context for the activities in our lab, the overview of which will be the matter of the second half of the talk. In the spirit of the QISE seminar series, I will describe our lab’s experimental capabilities, formulate the scientific questions that we are currently exploring, and highlight some recent experimental and numerical results.
[02/05/2024] Fundamental photonic limits through quadratic optimization
Speaker: Prof. Alejandro W. Rodriguez, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Princeton University.
Abstract: Given some desired electromagnetic objective (enhancing radiation from a quantum emitter, the field intensity in a photovoltaic cell, the radiative cross section of an antenna) subject to some physical constraints (material compatibility, fabrication tolerances, or system size) there was, until recently, no rigorous method for finding or assessing uniquely best wave solutions. Here, we review recent progress in our understanding of photonic limits with special focus on an emerging theoretical framework that combines computational optimization with conservation laws to yield physical bounds. Results pertaining to canonical electromagnetic problems such as Purcell enhancement and scattering cross sections are presented..
FALL 2023 Seminars:
[11/15/2023] Modernizing quantum thermodynamics [Wednesday]
Speaker: Prof. Jason Pollack, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University.
Abstract: Sometimes our understanding of physical theories changes not because of a dramatic experimental result, but rather because of a reinterpretation of what the theory “actually means”. I’ll review two cases, statistical mechanics and quantum measurement theory, whose “modern” understanding by their practitioners is quite different from their traditional textbook explications. In statistical mechanics, I’ll review the Jaynesian interpretation of entropy and coarse-graining, and discuss the non-equilibrium results derived by Jarzynski and Crooks. In quantum measurement theory, I’ll describe the influence of the “decoherence program” in providing a clearer understanding of how coupling to an environment effectively measures a quantum system. I’ll sketch some ways in which I think combining and incorporating these understandings might help us better understand quantum thermodynamics and computation.
[11/06/2023] Light-Matter Interaction and Entangled States in Quantum Dots
Speaker: Prof. Arindam Chakraborty, Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University
Abstract: This presentation will showcase the fascinating realm of light-matter interaction in semiconductor nanomaterials, specifically focusing on the investigation of transient entangled quantum states in the absorption and generation of classical and non-classical light. By summarizing key findings from theoretical and accurate quantum chemical calculations on electronically excited states of semiconductor nanomaterials, this talk will present insights into the fundamental processes that govern light-matter interaction in the nano regime. Potential applications of these quantum states in various fields, including optoelectronics, quantum computing, light-harvesting, and generation of entangled photon-pair will be presented. Furthermore, this presentation will also highlight how the synergistic application of machine-learning and graph-theoretic methods through active collaborations have significantly contributed to understanding light-matter interaction in semiconductor quantum dots.
[10/23/2023] Quantum Photonic Integrated Circuits [Location PHYS 202]
Speaker: Dr. Christopher Tison, AFRL/RITQ – Integrated Photonics and Photon Qubits
Abstract: The field of integrated photonics has grown in the last decade to fill the market with classical devices which offer tremendous SWaP benefits over conventional bulk optics and fiber components. Integrated photonic chips were developed with a focus on the telecommunications sector which led to the use of materials with small band gaps limiting their application within the broad spectrum of qubit technologies, and for quantum applications, device losses prohibited large-scale systems. Over the last couple years, both industry and government laboratories have worked closely with commercial institutions to address both issues by reducing the waveguide losses, developing low-loss components, and pushing towards the inclusion of ultrawide- bandgap photonic materials into the fabrication process. This talk focuses on some of the integrated photonics efforts which are underway at the Air Force Research Lab in Rome, NY. In particular, we will highlight progress in the development of a quantum-focused process design kit (PDK) at the American Institute of Manufacturing Photonics (AIM), some of the results that have stemmed from this effort, and where we see it going.
[10/09/2023] Cancelled due to Fall Break
[09/25/2023] Novel 2D-Materials and Heterostructures for Quantum Technologies
Speaker: Prof. Pankaj K. Jha, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University.
Abstract: Novel materials are the backbone of quantum technologies of the 21st century. In this talk, 2D materials research focused on developing quantum detectors in our lab will be discussed. The first part of the talk will be devoted to the generation of quantum light at room temperature using color centers in wide-band gap materials such as hexagonal boron nitride. Next, we will discuss our ongoing work on designing, fabricating, and testing iron chalcogenide-based 2D superconductors such as FeTe0.6Se0.4 for developing next generation single photon detectors at “higher” temperatures. I will conclude by sharing our research vision for harnessing these novel materials for many photon-starved applications such as quantum LiDAR, quantum sensing and imaging, quantum key distribution, etc. that require high system detection efficiencies.