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Quantum science and devices is a research area that is developing new concepts and hardware for information processing and communications.
Its practical significance has steadily grown since 2005 when the smallest features in commodity microprocessors surpassed the semi-wavelength of relevant photons, and some transistor components became only several atoms thick. These dramatic developments have not yet been fully appreciated by the broader research community, but hint at fundamental changes in the design of future electronic computers and communications. According to theoretical evidence, quantum algorithms that exploit atomic-scale phenomena can outperform the best known conventional algorithms in important cases. Our department’s research program in this domain encompasses a variety of fields in electrical and computer engineering, as well as computer science. Our faculty and graduate students are studying and advancing nano-technologies, quantum computing, quantum information science, as well as quantum communications and cryptography.
Quantum mechanics has played an important role in many areas of engineering for decades now, fueling an increasing number of fundamental breakthroughs, as available devices become smaller and individual particles can be precisely controlled in the lab. Newly observed phenomena are often best explained using quantum theory, facilitating new technologies and applications. In particular, accounting for quantized energy levels and the Fermi nature of electrons in semiconductors has lead to more accurate modeling and optimization of CMOS transistors, as well as new results on capacitively-coupled quantum dots. Scientists and engineers have also found that the quantum phase and electronic spin can carry information, as well as facilitate communication and information processing. The use of quantum phase promises to bring a new a new revolution in electron-based technology the way optical phase revolutionized information processing and storage by means of holography.
New advances result from close collaborations between different groups. For example, joint research by experts in semiconductor physics and ultrafast optics demonstrated information transfer from classical optical field to the quantum phase of an electron. Such discoveries are set to dominate technology as we approach the end of Moore’s law for device scaling on semiconductor chips. And they will require the development of new techniques for quantum control, circuit optimization, computer architecture and algorithms that parallel and extend those for current computers.
Specialties
- Integrated Photonics and Optoelectronics with Quantum Confined Heterostructures
- Quantum Design Automation
- Quantum Optics and Information
ECE Faculty
Alexander Burgers
WebsiteQuantum optics, hybrid quantum systems, cold atoms in optical tweezers, cavity QED, nanophotonics, integrated quantum systems, light-matter interactions, Rydberg mediated interactions, quantum simulation and quantum sensing.Parag Deotare
WebsiteResearch includes light-matter interaction in nanoscale systems and the development of low energy photonic and excitonic devices for applications in data communication and life sciences.Chris Giebink
WebsiteOptoelectronic and photonic devices based on organic semiconductors, solar energy conversion, solid-state lighting, semiconductor lasers, and nonlinear optics.Mack Kira
WebsiteQuantum optoelectronics, semiconductor quantum optics, quantum optics, condensed-matter theory, terahertz spectroscopy, many-body interactions, photon correlations, coherent and ultrafast phenomena, and cluster-expansion approach.P.C. Ku
WebsiteOptoelectronic devices and materials with current focus on integrated photonics, semiconductor light sources (both classical and quantum) and their applications.Mark Kushner
WebsiteComputational plasma science and engineering with applications to materials processing, microelectronics, photonics and lasers, biotechnology and medicine, and environment.Di Liang
WebsiteSemiconductor optoelectronics, compound semiconductor and silicon-based photonic devices, large-scale photonic integration for optical interconnect, sensing, and computing.Zetian Mi
WebsiteLow dimensional semiconductors and their applications in photonic, optoelectronic, clean energy, and quantum devices and systemsTed Norris
WebsiteApplication of femtosecond optical techniques to the physics of semiconductor nanostructures, in developing new ultrafast optical and optoelectronic measurement techniques, THz generation and measurement, plasmonics in nanostructures, and novel methods for biological imaging and in vivo sensing.Sandeep Pradhan
WebsiteNetwork information theory, coding theory, quantum information theory, quantum error correcting codes, quantum field theory, quantum physics.
Zheshen Zhang
WebsiteTheoretical and experimental aspects of quantum information science, aiming to enable new sensing, computing, communication, and networking capabilities.Zhaohui Zhong
WebsiteNanoelectronics and nanophotonics, microwave and terahertz frequency nanoelectronics, solar cell technology, chemical and biological sensing, nanomaterial synthesis.CSE Faculty
George Tzimpragos
WebsiteMentoring PlanComputer architecture, new models of computation, computing with emerging devicesCourtesy and Affiliated Faculty
Steven Cundiff
WebsiteInteractions of ultrashort pulses of light with matter, including semiconductors and atomic vapors.Rachel Goldman
WebsiteMy research involves investigations of structure-property relationships in thin films and heterostructures.News Feed
Hamed Alkhathami receives Rackham International Student Fellowship
Alkhathami’s master’s work explores the application of quantum principles to optimize signal processing systems.Chun-Wei Liu receives Rackham International Student Fellowship
Liu’s PhD work in quantum engineering explores collective effects of atom-atom interactions.Toward quantum for the real world: photonic team in running for center-level funding
A team led by the University of Michigan aims to bring the extraordinary accuracy of quantum laboratory measurements to real-world devices.Alex Burgers receives AFOSR support for research on atom-photon interactions
Prof. Burgers will use optical tweezers to create quantum mirrors from 2D arrays of atoms in a first-of-its-kind experimental demonstration.Zetian Mi awarded $7.5M MURI for research on ferroelectric nitrides
Prof. Mi is the lead PI on a collaborative project that aims to advance ferroelectric nitrides for applications in next-generation microelectronics and quantum-photonic devices.OptoGPT for improving solar cells, smart windows, telescopes and more
Taking advantage of the transformer neural networks that power large language models, engineers can get recipes for materials with the optical properties they need.University of Michigan team partners with Semiwise to tackle cryogenic control electronics technology
Prof. Dennis Sylvester and PhD student Qirui Zhang are working with UK-based company Semiwise Ltd. to design cryogenic circuitry and improve the efficiency of quantum computing.Markus Borsch receives ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award for research on lightwave electronics
With his dissertation, Borsch takes on the unknown and enables the future of solid-state quantum electronics.Blue PHOLEDs: Final color of efficient OLEDs finally viable in lighting
Synchronizing light and matter adds blue to the OLED color paletteNextgen computing: Hard-to-move quasiparticles glide up pyramid edges
Computing with a combination of light and chargeless excitons could beat heat losses and more, but excitons need new modes of transportShaping the quantum future with lightwave electronics
The semiconductor-compatible technology is a million times faster than existing electronics and could give us access to an entire new world of quantum phenomena.Soon-to-be most powerful laser in the US is open for experiments
The NSF-supported facility at U-M is about to begin welcoming researchers to study extreme physics that could advance medicine, microelectronics and more.Inside the Quantum Research Institute
Mack Kira, co-director of the Quantum Research Institute with Steven Cundiff, is taking Michigan’s quantum activities to the next level.New undergraduate courses prepare students for the Second Quantum Revolution
Quantum information science and engineering is one of the hottest fields in engineering – and ECE wants to make it accessible to everyone.Quantum entanglement could make accelerometers and dark matter detectors more precise
And yes, they are looking to miniaturize it for smartphone dead reckoning.Nanoscale ferroelectric semiconductor could power AI and post-Moore’s Law computing on a phone
Next-gen computing material gets down to the right size for modern manufacturing.Mohammad Aamir Sohail awarded inaugural Quad Fellowship in recognition of his excellence in quantum research and international cooperation
Sohail, a PhD student, is one of four U-M students to receive the fellowship, which is given to top graduate students from Australia, India, Japan, and the United States.Seeing electron movement at fastest speed ever could help unlock next-level quantum computing
New technique could enable processing speeds a million to a billion times faster than today’s computers and spur progress in many-body physics.Emulating impossible “unipolar” laser pulses paves the way for processing quantum information
Quantum materials emit light as though it were only a positive pulse, rather than a positive-negative oscillation.Touheed Anwar Atif awarded Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship for his research on quantum information and quantum computing
Atif’s coding framework addresses quantum information network coding problems and has helped uncover new insights into the world of quantum information.‘Exciton surfing’ could enable next-gen energy, computing and communications tech
A charge-neutral information carrier could cut energy waste from computing, now that it can potentially be transported within chips.Quantum tech: Semiconductor “flipped” to insulator above room temp
Discovery could pave the way to high speed, low-energy quantum computing.U-M forms collaboration to advance quantum science and technology
The Midwest Quantum Collaboratory studies quantum science and technology.Research full speed ahead on manufacturable III-V materials for next-generation electronics
A recent breakthrough in ferroelectric III-V semiconductors at the University of Michigan has been followed by several advancements and new funding to bring the technology closer to market.$1.8M to develop room temperature, controllable quantum nanomaterials
The project could pave the way for compact quantum computing and communications as well as efficient UV lamps for sterilization and air purification.“Egg carton” quantum dot array could lead to ultralow power devices
By putting a twist on new “2D” semiconductors, researchers have demonstrated their potential for using single photons to transmit information.
Mapping quantum structures with light to unlock their capabilities
Rather than installing new “2D” semiconductors in devices to see what they can do, this new method puts them through their paces with lasers and light detectors.
The new quantum spurs action by the Michigan Quantum Science & Technology Working Group
The new working group showcased Michigan’s strength in Quantum Science at a workshop attended by researchers throughout the University of Michigan.
It takes two photonic qubits to make quantum computing possible
Professors Ku and Steel are applying their expertise to take key next steps toward practical quantum computing
Blue Sky: Up to $10M toward research so bold, some of it just might fail
Inspired by startup funding models, Michigan Engineering reinvents its internal R&D grant structure.
Light could make semiconductor computers a million times faster or even go quantum
Electron states in a semiconductor, set and changed with pulses of light, could be the 0 and 1 of future “lightwave” electronics or room-temperature quantum computers.
‘Photon glue’ enables a new quantum mechanical state
Researchers at the University of Michigan and Queens College used light to create links between organic and inorganic semiconductors in an optical cavity.
A new laser paradigm: An electrically injected polariton laser
“It is no longer a scientific curiosity. It’s a real device.”
Advancing secure communications: A better single-photon emitter for quantum cryptography
The new device improves upon the current technology and is much easier to make.
Scientific Milestone: A room temperature Bose-Einstein condensate
A BEC is an unusual state of matter in which a group of boson particles can exist in a single quantum state, allowing scientists to observe novel quantum phenomena.
Organic laser breakthrough
The team is working toward building organic lasers that, like many inorganic lasers today, can be excited with electricity rather than light.
Duncan Steel will advance quantum information processes in new MURI
Steel will concentrate his efforts on solid state systems, specifically with epitaxially grown InAs/lGaAs semiconductor quantum dots.