A. Baha Balantekin
Eugene P. Wigner Professor of Physics
Research Website: Balantekin Group
I am a theoretical physicist working at the interface of nuclear physics, particle physics, and astrophysics using tools from quantum information science.
Jennifer Choy
Assistant Professor of Engineering Physics
Research Website: Lab of Quantum and Photonic Engineering
The Choy group is interested in the development of quantum sensors (based on neutral atoms and atom-like systems in solids) for sensitive measurements of physical quantities such as inertial forces, magnetic fields, and time, as well as the application of nanoscale optics and photonics to improve the utility and performance of quantum instruments.
Susan Coppersmith
Robert E. Fassnacht Professor of Physics & Vilas Research Professor
Research Website: Coppersmith
I am a theoretical condensed matter physicist working to understand the fundamental properties of a variety of systems that are far from thermal equilibrium.
Chang-Beom Eom
Raymond R. Holton Chair Professor in Engineering and Theodore H. Geballe Professor
Research Website: Oxide Lab
The research of our group has spanned many areas of heteroepitaxy of complex oxides and nanostructure fabrication, from thin film synthesis to characterization and device application of various novel materials. Many new electronic, magnetic and optical devices require sophisticated thin film structures or multilayers, which demand that the thickness be controlled down to one unit cell; other devices may need lateral dimensions to be patterned down to nanometer sizes. Complex oxide materials possess an enormous range of electrical, optical, and magnetic properties. For instance, insulators, high quality metals, dielectrics, ferroelectrics, piezoelectrics, semiconductors, ferromagnetics, transparent conductors, colossal magnetoresistance materials, superconductors, and nonlinear optic materials have all been produced using oxide materials. Therefore, thin films and heterostructures of oxide materials have great potential for novel device applications. A major challenge is to prepare these materials with epitaxial thin film form with atomic layer control and integrate them so that these properties can be fully utilized in electronic devices. Our interest includes the synthesis and characterization of epitaxial oxide heterostructures and heterointerfaces uniquely suited for oxide nanoelectronics piezoelectric heterostructures for hyper-active MEMS/NEMS, ferroelectric and multiferroics for magnetoelectric and photovoltaic devices. Our interest also includes the epitaxial growth of ferronictide superconducting thin films and 2-dimensional electron gas at oxide hetero-interfaces.
Mark Eriksson
Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Physics
Research Website: Eriksson Group
The Eriksson Group studies quantum computing and information, with a special emphasis on semiconductor qubits in silicon and silicon-germanium, both on their own and coupled to superconducting waveguides and circuits. We use state-of-the-art clean-room processing techniques to nanofabricate these qubits, and we measure, characterize, and program the qubits using microwave electronics techniques at dilution refrigerator temperatures, which are as low as 10 mK. In addition to quantum computing, we study thermal transport in nanostructures and NV-centers for chemical sensing.
Robert Joynt
MS-Physics-Quantum Computing Program Director; Professor of Physics and Associate Chair for Alumni Affairs
Research Website: Joynt
My research is in Quantum Computing and Condensed Matter Theory. Presently, I am working on new forms of error correction involving 2-designs. I have a longstanding project on electromagnetic noise in quantum computers, particularly on the spatial correlations present in such noise. I am working improvements for the quantum adiabatic algorithm that involve the idea of catalysis. We have recently developed a theory of discrete scale invariance in Weyl semimetals and an explanation of the Kerr effect in unconventional superconductors.
Mikhail A. Kats
Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dugald C. Jackson Faculty Scholar
Research Website: Kats Group
The group of Prof. Mikhail Kats carries out experimental and theoretical research across the fields of optics and photonics, device physics, and nanoscale science. The primary goals of the group are to investigate fundamental problems in optics and photonics and to create next-generation optical components to emit, modulate, and detect light across the visible and infrared spectral ranges.
Jason K Kawasaki
Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
Research Website: Kawasaki Group
Irena Knezevic
Patricia and Michael Splinter Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Research Website: Knezevic Research Group
Shimon Kolkowitz
Assistant Professor of Physics
Research Website: Kolkowitz Group
Research in the Kolkowitz lab focuses on metrology, tests of fundamental physics, and sensing using quantum systems. We are building some of the most precise clocks in the world and exploring novel applications of these amazing instruments. We are also developing new sensing techniques using atom-scale defects trapped inside diamond and applying them to study the origins of decoherence in quantum platforms.
Max Lagally
Erwin W. Mueller Professor and Bascom Professor of Surface Science
Research Website: Lagally Group
Alex Levchenko
Associate Professor of Physics
Research Website: Levchenko
I am a condensed matter theorist with research interests in quantum kinetics, mesoscopic effects, nonequilibrium systems, superconductivity, and topological systems.
Robert McDermott
Professor of Physics
Research Website: McDermott Lab
Superconducting integrated circuits are a leading candidate for the realization of quantum bits (“qubits”). We are focused on the development of technologies to enable scaling to quantum arrays comprising thousands or millions of qubits, as needed for robust quantum error correction. We have separate research efforts in the areas of quantum coherence, quantum measurement, and high-fidelity coherent control. In addition, we are working with collaborators to develop hybrid quantum systems that capitalize on the distinct strengths of disparate quantum technologies.
Dieter van Melkebeek
Professor of Computer Sciences
Research Website: Van Melkebeek
Computational complexity theory and the theory of computing, in particular lower bounds for NP-hard problems, pseudorandomness and derandomization, and quantum computing.
Mark Saffman
Professor of Physics
WQI Director
Research Website: Saffman Lab
We are exploring the use of neutral atoms for quantum information processing using several related but complementary approaches. Experiments are underway with three different atomic species: Rb, Cs, and Ho.
Maxim Vavilov
Professor of Physics
Research Website: Vavilov
My research focuses in the area of theoretical condensed matter physics. I study transport and non-equilibrium phenomena in quantum many particle systems, as well as the role of disorder and chaos in the quantum limit. My research is related to problems motivated by experimental investigation of mesoscopic and nanoscale electron systems and intended for future development of electronics and quantum information technologies.
Thad Walker
Professor of Physics
Research Website: Atom Trainers
Quantum manipulation using Rydberg states with collective atomic qubits; Ultrasensitive magnetometry and nuclear magnetic resonance using spin-polarized atoms and nuclei.
Deniz Yavuz
Professor of Physics
Research Website: Yavuz Lab
Yavuz Lab is an experimental atomic physics group. We specialize in quantum optics and ultrafast physics.
Our research includes experimental, computational, and theoretical studies that seek to answer a variety of questions:
- Can we use visible light to produce or resolve sub-nanometer images?
- Can we engineer the index of refraction in an atomic system to produce interesting behavior like lossless index enhancement or a negative index?
- Can we exploit the interaction of light and molecules in order to efficiently turn one laser into dozens of coherent lasers?
- Can we construct a continuous-wave “white laser,” a broadband coherent light source capable of producing both sub-femtosecond pulses and arbitrary optical waveforms?
- Can we localize populations of atoms to regions much smaller than a diffraction-limited spot?
We investigate these and a variety of other problems in our two optics labs and through computer modeling.
Zongfu Yu
Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dugald C. Jackson Faculty Scholar, and Vilas Associate
Research Website: Photonics Group
Computational classical and quantum electrodynamics; Quantum Optics; Photodetectors; Topological Photonics; Integrated photonics