IUCRC Planning Grant IUPUI: Center for Quantum Technologies (CQT)

量子技术中心(CQT)是普渡大学、印第安纳大学、圣母大学和印第安纳大学普渡大学印第安纳波利斯分校(IUPUI)之间的合作伙伴关系。CQT的使命是与行业和政府利益攸关方合作，确定量子技术方面的迫切需求和挑战，然后开发新的解决方案来应对这些机会。量子技术受亚原子粒子物理学的支配，与计算、传感、成像、计量学、通信和密码学相关。由于其广泛的适用性，量子技术具有变革性的潜力，用于智能、金融安全、计算、医学和导航。社会已经进入第二次量子革命，但仍处于初级阶段，新兴的量子产业需要进行重大的基础研究，以成熟新技术。CQT研究人员将与行业成员合作，利用他们在量子科学和工程方面的专业知识，开发基础知识，并将其转化为具有增强功能和性能的行业友好型量子设备、系统和算法。此外，CQT将帮助培训下一代量子科学家和工程师，以支持急需的量子劳动力的发展。学生不仅将进行中心研究，还将帮助撰写项目报告，在一年两次的会议上发表演讲，并与行业和政府成员互动。最后，CQT将利用这四所大学每所大学的现有项目，吸引和支持传统上在STEM学科中代表性不足的学生。在四个中心点之一的印第安纳大学-普渡大学印第安纳波利斯，量子材料、量子传感和量子信息领域的学术专业知识将与产业合作伙伴的需求相结合。印第安纳大学-普渡大学印第安纳波利斯分校的教员擅长开发和表征具有独特性质的新型量子材料，这些材料既可以用作量子计算的平台，也可以用作接口。研究人员还探索了通过使用量子材料来改善传感的新方案，例如，通过使用光学捕获的纳米晶体冷却到其平移运动的基态，或者利用奇偶时间(PT)对称系统中的特异点。他们还探索了量子信息和密钥分发，这些信息和密钥分发是在光子纠缠场景的新应用中获得的。这些办法和方法是最近在IUPUI内与现有的纳米成像中心和综合纳米系统开发研究所密切合作开发的。由科学学院和工程与技术学院联合开发的一个新的硕士课程将整合现有的量子科学和技术课程，并开发新的课程材料，以更好地为毕业生加入这些快速发展的领域的劳动力做准备。该中心将与STEM教育创新与研究院(SEIRI)合作，该研究所是STEM学科教育创新、研究、评估和咨询的中心，并将直接与EPIC(循证促进包容性气候)项目互动，以促进STEM专业人员的公平和多样性。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Center for Quantum Technologies (CQT) is a partnership between Purdue University, Indiana University, the University of Notre Dame, and Indiana University Purdue University - Indianapolis (IUPUI). The mission of the CQT is to collaborate with industry and government stakeholders to identify compelling needs and challenges in quantum technologies, and then develop novel solutions to address these opportunities. Quantum technologies are governed by the physics of sub-atomic particles and have relevance to computing, sensing, imaging, metrology, communications, and cryptography. Because of their wide-ranging applicability, quantum technologies have the potential to be transformative, with uses in intelligence, financial security, computing, medicine, and navigation. Society has entered the second quantum revolution, but it is still in its infancy, and the nascent quantum industry requires significant fundamental research to mature novel technologies. In partnership with industrial members, the CQT researchers will use their expertise in quantum science and engineering to develop and transfer foundational knowledge into industry-friendly quantum devices, systems, and algorithms with enhanced functionality and performance. Additionally, the CQT will help train the next generation of quantum scientists and engineers to support the development of a critically needed quantum workforce. Students will not only conduct Center research, but also help writing project reports, present at biannual meetings, and interact with industry and government members. Finally, the CQT will leverage established programs at each of the four universities to engage and support students traditionally underrepresented in STEM disciplines.At Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, one of the four Center sites, the academic expertise in the fields of quantum materials, quantum sensing and quantum information will be meshed with the needs of industrial partners. Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis faculty excel in the development and characterization of novel quantum materials with unique properties that can be used both as platforms for quantum computation or as interfaces. The researchers also explore novel schemes to improve sensing by using quantum materials, for example, by using optically trapped nanocrystals cooled to their ground state of translational motion or the exploitation of extraordinary points in parity-time (PT)-symmetric systems. They also explore quantum information and key distribution, obtained in novel applications of photon entanglement scenarios. These approaches and methods have been developed recently within IUPUI in close collaborations with the existing Nanoscale Imaging Center and the Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute. A new Masters level program jointly developed by the School of Science and the School of Engineering & Technology will incorporate existing courses in quantum science and technology and develop new curricular materials to better prepare graduates to join the workforce in these rapidly evolving fields. The Center will collaborate with the STEM Education Innovation and Research Institute (SEIRI), a hub for education innovation, research, evaluation and consultation in STEM disciplines and will directly interact with Project EPIC (Evidence-Informed Promotion of Inclusive Climate) to promote equity and diversity in STEM professions.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.