Advanced Microwave Photonics Group

NIST is home to a broad interdisciplinary program in quantum information science. NIST is exploring multiple implementations of qubits and strategies for taking advantage of quantum effects to compute, simulate, and improve fundamental measurement strategies. Josephson junctions are at the heart of the superconducting approach. Nonlinear behavior helps to create "artificial atoms" that are easy to manipulate and couple together. In addition, mechanical and electrical resonators can store and process quantum information. Work in this project falls into several research topics described below.

Research on quantum information (QI) seeks to control and exploit exotic properties of quantum mechanics, and researchers are already generating "unbreakable" codes for ultra-secure encryption. Someday, quantum computers could solve problems impossible for today's and even tomorrow’s most powerful supercomputers. This project takes advantage of superconductivity at low temperatures, Josephson junctions, mechanical elements, and careful circuit design to develop quantum bits (qubits), mechanical and electrical resonators, tunable couplers, and electrical measurement techniques to exploit the fundamental laws of quantum mechanics to improve computing, simulation, and high precision measurements.

Publications

Group publication list

News and Updates

A blue-tinged drawing shows a schematic of the two qubits and resonator above a white rectangle, which represents the SQUID device that controls the connections and relationships among the qubits and resonator elements.

NIST ‘Toggle Switch’ Can Help Quantum Computers Cut Through the Noise

June 26, 2023

The novel device could lead to more versatile quantum processors with clearer outputs.

A numbered orange plastic box on a lanyard is shown with a quarter for scale.

NIST’s Low-Cost Radio System Could Help Trace Disease Spread

January 24, 2022

In efforts to limit the spread of disease while preserving privacy, an interdisciplinary research team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology

Gray ovals on blue background are linked to curved gray lines.

NIST Team Directs and Measures Quantum Drum Duet

May 6, 2021

Like conductors of a spooky symphony, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have “entangled” two small mechanical drums and

Optical Fiber Could Boost Power of Superconducting Quantum Computers

March 24, 2021

The secret to building superconducting quantum computers with massive processing power may be an ordinary telecommunications technology — optical fiber

Projects and Programs

Advanced Microwave Photonics

Ongoing

Awards

2021 Arthur S. Flemming Award - John Teufel

Dr. John D. Teufel is a world leader in the field of quantum optomechanics. His innovations over the last decade have tested fundamental

Physics World 2021 Breakthrough of the Year

The Physics World 2021 Breakthrough of the Year goes to two independent teams for entangling two macroscopic vibrating drumheads, thereby

2018 - Silver Medal Award---José Aumentado, Konrad Lehnert, Raymond Simmonds, John Teufel

For creating the fundamental, enabling components of future quantum networks that will process information much faster than current computer networks.

2017 - Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers---John Teufel

For pioneering breakthroughs in the nascent field of quantum optomechanics that are providing the practical means to preserve and transfer information across the components of future quantum computing devices

Press Coverage

NIST Collaborates With Raytheon BBN & Universities to Create Quantum Computer Toggle Switch

ExecutiveGov

June 28, 2023

A research team that includes the National Institute of Standards and Technology has developed a device that enables quantum computers to switch connections

TAKING MEASURE BLOG

From Escaping a War to Becoming a Mom of 3 at Once, Science Has Always Been There for Me

July 26, 2023

I learned as a young adult not to get attached to material things; they can be gone in an instant. But there were some things I knew no one could take — an