OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — A large investment from the Department of Energy may have subatomic payoffs.
The DOE is giving Oak Ridge National Laboratory $115 million over the next five years to develop new quantum technologies as part of the Quantum Science Center.
Quantum materials are any kind of matter that have unique properties, like quantum fluctuations, quantum entanglement, quantum coherence and have topological behavior. Learning more about them can help private companies use quantum materials to develop technologies like quantum computers and sensors.
The money will help ORNL realize the potential of quantum materials and put them into use. The Quantum Science Center focuses its research on three core areas:
- Quantum materials discovery and design, in which QSC researchers investigate and exploit the novel properties of topological materials for computing.
- Quantum algorithms and simulations, in which QSC researchers develop and test algorithms for quantum computers and sensors.
- Quantum devices and sensors for discovery science, in which QSC researchers co-design new quantum devices and sensors with unprecedented performance for real-world applications in the DOE domain.
It also engages students and post-doctoral associates in research activities at partnering institutions, offering an environment for future scientists to cultivate the knowledge they need to succeed in their research goals.