Pines: Maryland Research at Center of ‘Age of Quantum’

From advanced sensors to the foundations of an entirely new, ultra-secure internet, Terp researchers are continuing to drive a quantum revolution, University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines said Wednesday at an international gathering of leaders in quantum science, technology and business.

In his remarks to hundreds of attendees at the Quantum World Congress, held Sept. 9-11 in Tysons Corner, Va., Pines also heralded the next phase in the university’s partnership with IonQ, a quantum computing hardware and software firm headquartered in UMD’s Discovery District, with the university itself at the center of what Pines has dubbed “the Capital of Quantum.”

“From computing and photonics to networks and sensors, the University of Maryland is making sure the Capital of Quantum is at the center of the drive, determination and resources needed to take on the grandest challenges of our time for the betterment of everyone,” he said.

UMD has risen to international prominence in quantum research, starting nearly two decades ago with the establishment of the Joint Quantum Institute in partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Laboratory for Physical Sciences. Since then, UMD’s quantum research enterprise has grown to encompass more than 200 researchers—including Nobel Laureate William Phillips—and 10 quantum research centers and labs.

One such facility is UMD’s National Quantum Laboratory, or QLab, a partnership with IonQ that had its grand opening last fall. On Wednesday, Pines announced a new $9 million investment from the university to continue work at the lab on practical engineering and design applications for a wide range of fields such as aerospace, automotive tech and biomanufacturing.

“UMD’s dedication to quantum research, coupled with the collaborative nature of QLab, makes them the ideal partner to accelerate breakthroughs in the quantum industry,” said IonQ President and CEO Peter Chapman.

Pines said UMD’s continued partnership with IonQ reaffirms the university’s commitment to making an impact for good through quantum.

“IonQ’s industry-leading technology and expertise make them an invaluable partner in driving quantum research and development that will transform lives here in Maryland and around the world,” he said.

Beyond the QLab, Pines pointed to other Maryand research reinforcing what he called the “Age of Quantum 2.0.” Among them:

• UMD quantum and networking experts are building the Mid-Atlantic Region Quantum Internet (MARQI) network seeks to connect quantum nodes and lead the way toward a quantum internet—a goal that will provide unconditionally secure communication and unprecedented precision on ultra-powerful computers, Pines said.
• Research in UMD’s Quantum Technology Center on a “quantum diamond microscope” provides extreme sensitivity and resolution to allow researchers to map patterns of magnetic and radio frequency fields from a wide range of subjects, including circuits.
• UMD scientists were part of the team that performed complex, error-corrected quantum algorithms on a computer with an unprecedented 48 logical qubits, pointing a way forward in developing practical quantum computers.

In all, the event included more the 1,000 attendees from more than 30 countries, and included presentations from numerous UMD researchers.