ExpandQISE: Track 2: A Quantum Science Education and Research Program for HBCUs: Exotic Physics and Applications of Solid-State Qubits

非技术描述:量子信息科学与工程（QISE）被广泛认为是实现改变游戏规则的科学突破和变革性的新量子计算，传感和通信技术的关键驱动因素，以确保国家安全和维持美国的经济竞争力。有必要在学术界，国家实验室和工业界之间建立伙伴关系，以便通过吸引多样化的劳动力有效地推进QISE前沿。然而，传统黑人学院和大学（HBCUs）缺乏对学生进行QISE培训所需的师资力量和实验室基础设施。这个为期五年的项目旨在通过在霍华德大学（HU）与东北大学建立广泛的QISE研究和培训计划来填补这一关键空白，东北大学的量子研究和教育计划已经建立起来。合作的国家实验室和行业有：美国国家标准与技术研究院（NIST）、国家可再生能源实验室（NREL）、IBM、量子设计和Qnami。该项目的科学重点是对量子比特或量子位的建模、发现、理解和应用，这是QISE生态系统的关键组成部分，就像现代电子革命基础上的经典比特一样。这项工作还将为美国其他hbcu和少数族裔服务机构（msi）提供路线图，以推动自己在QISE中发挥领导作用。技术描述：该项目与东北大学密切合作，在HU开展充满活力的QISE研究和培训计划，并与国家实验室（NIST和NREL）和行业（IBM，量子设计和Qnami）合作。研究和培训活动围绕着三个高度相互关联的重点。(1)研究量子比特与电磁场、自旋、离子、量子点等系统相互作用的混合结构，以加深对量子传感和转导技术的理解和进步。(2)合理设计和深入评估二维宿主材料中的缺陷量子比特，包括自旋-轨道耦合、声子、核自旋和温度的影响。(3)使用商用低温扫描金刚石-氮空位磁力计（SNVM）对量子系统进行低温纳米级测绘和探索——这是美国MSI的首个此类磁力计——具有前所未有的分辨率和灵敏度，可以揭示奇异电荷和自旋现象的基本原理，并实现改进的量子位设计。HU的本科生、研究生和博士后的学生和教师积极参与实验和理论研究和培训活动，贯穿了项目的三个重点。QISE劳动力发展工作包括：由HU学生和教师参加的研讨会，以激发人们对国家实验室和R1大学的各种QISE培训计划的认识；与国家和行业合作伙伴合作的机会，包括访问IBM量子计算云和东北大学集成的EQUAL平台，进行生长、制造和表征量子比特材料和设备的实践培训；开发新的QISE课程，以支持HU的专业QISE硕士学位课程。推广活动包括创建一个门户网站，突出QISE的最新发现，每月项目研讨会和电子暑期学校的视频记录，以教育和吸引公众参与QISE主题。该项目由多学科活动办公室（MPS/OMA）和技术前沿计划（TIP/TF）联合资助。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Non-Technical description: Quantum information science and engineering (QISE) is widely recognized as a key driver for realizing game-changing scientific breakthroughs and transformative new quantum computing, sensing, and communication technologies for ensuring national security and maintaining the economic competitiveness of the U.S. It is necessary to build partnerships between academia, national laboratories, and industry in order to effectively advance the QISE forefront by engaging a diverse workforce. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), however, lack the needed faculty strength and laboratory infrastructure for QISE training of students. This five-year project aims to fill this critical gap by establishing an expansive QISE research and training program at Howard University (HU) in close partnership with Northeastern University, where quantum research and education programs are well-established. Collaborating national laboratories and industries are: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), IBM, Quantum Design, and Qnami. The scientific focus of the project is on modeling, discovery, understanding, and applications of quantum bits or qubits, which are the key components of the QISE ecosystem, much as the classical bits underlie the modern electronics revolution. This effort will also provide a roadmap for other HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) throughout the U.S. to propel themselves toward leadership roles in QISE.Technical description: This project is pursuing a vibrant QISE research and training program at HU in close partnership with Northeastern University and collaborations involving national laboratories (NIST and NREL), and industry (IBM, Quantum Design, and Qnami). The research and training activities are centered around three highly interlinked thrusts. (1) Investigation of hybrid structures of qubits interacting with electromagnetic fields, spins, ions, quantum dots, and other systems to gain a deeper understanding and advancement of quantum sensing and transduction technologies. (2) Rational design and in-depth evaluation of defect qubits in two-dimensional host materials, including effects of spin-orbit couplings, phonons, nuclear spins, and temperature. And (3), low-temperature nanoscale mapping and exploration of quantum systems using a commercial cryogenic scanning diamond-Nitrogen-vacancy magnetometer (SNVM) - the first of its kind at an MSI in the US—with unprecedented resolution and sensitivity for unraveling the fundamentals of exotic charge and spin phenomena and achieving improved qubit designs. Undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students and faculty at HU are participating vigorously in experimental and theoretical research and training activities, cutting across all three thrusts in the project. QISE workforce development efforts include: workshops involving HU students and faculty to ignite awareness about various QISE training programs at the national labs and R1 universities; opportunities to collaborate with national and industry partners, including access to IBM Cloud for quantum computing and Northeastern University’s integrated EQUAL platform for hands-on training in growing, fabricating, and characterizing qubit materials and devices; and, development of new QISE courses to support a professional QISE master’s degree program at HU. Outreach activities include the creation of a web portal to highlight recent QISE discoveries and video recordings of monthly project seminars and e-summer schools to educate and engage the public in QISE topics.This project is jointly funded by The Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (MPS/OMA) and Technology Frontiers Program (TIP/TF).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.