Solid State QIS

CIQC collaborations are advancing new techniques and resources to enable large-scale, high-fidelity quantum systems using solid-state platforms as qubits. In our laboratories, you will find state-of-the-art superconducting quantum circuits, spin qubits in solid crystals, nanoscale quantum sensors, and integrated photonic and phononic devices. These systems leverage modern nanofabrication to realize quantum processors on a chip, enabling mass production of qubits and integration with classical electronics. Solid-state qubits offer fast, strong interactions (nanosecond-scale gate operations) and, in some architectures, long coherence times reaching up to seconds in carefully engineered materials. By combining fabrication scalability with advanced quantum control, solid-state QIS offers a promising route toward building practical quantum computers and sensors.Solid-state quantum computing encodes information in the physical states of matter within solid materials—for example, the superconducting current in a Josephson junction circuit, the spin of a point defect (such as a nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond), or the charge of an electron in a semiconductor quantum dot. Lasers, microwaves, and nanofabricated electrodes are used to manipulate and read out these qubits. Compared to other platforms, solid-state approaches can leverage standard semiconductor manufacturing processes, allowing the creation of large qubit arrays and scalable on-chip interconnects. They also enable hybrid quantum devices that combine components from different modalities: for example, superconducting qubits (with high coherence and precise control) can be coupled to optical or mechanical resonators, and spin qubits in semiconductors can be interfaced via superconducting microwave cavities. Common techniques include nanofabrication of superconducting circuits, trapping of single electrons or spins, integration of optical cavities and waveguides, and coupling to photonic or phononic modes. We develop these tools and explore their potential for scalable quantum computing, sensing, and networking.

CIQC Research Efforts in Solid-State QIS

CIQC supports both experimental and theoretical efforts in solid-state QIS, led by researchers Ania Bleszynski Jayich, Boubacar Kanté, Shimon Kolkowitz, Amir Safavi-Naeini, David Schuster, and Alp Sipahigil. Our research focuses on critical hardware elements for programmable solid-state quantum systems, including improving qubit coherence and gate fidelity, achieving enhanced scalability through 3D integration, and developing hybrid quantum interconnects that link disparate qubit types. We are building novel devices such as quantum acoustic resonators that can store and entangle single phonons, microwave-to-optical transducers for future quantum networks, and topological photonic structures that provide robust light-matter interfaces. Additionally, we design fast-feedback architectures and error correction protocols that stabilize quantum states in real time.Our teams also explore the capabilities of solid-state quantum devices. For example, spin-based quantum sensors in diamond allow for nanoscale magnetic imaging with unprecedented spatial resolution, useful for probing quantum materials and condensed matter phenomena. Individual NV centers serve as sensors capable of imaging superconducting vortices and magnetic skyrmions. Superconducting qubit platforms are used to simulate strongly interacting quantum systems, while on-chip photonics and solid-state memories are enabling testbeds for secure quantum communication and distributed entanglement. These platforms are also being employed in quantum-enhanced metrology and precision measurements, including searches for dark matter, gravitational waves, and other signatures of fundamental physics. By building toward a large-scale solid-state quantum computer, we aim not only to advance quantum technology but also to uncover new frontiers in physics.

Caption: Diamond nanobeams

Affiliated PIs: 

At CIQC, solid-state QIS efforts are driven by a multidisciplinary group of researchers working at the intersection of quantum science, materials engineering, and advanced fabrication. Together, these efforts span quantum sensing, computation, communication, and hybrid system integration—advancing solid-state devices as a robust and scalable platform for the future of quantum information science.

• Ania Bleszynski Jayich (UCSB) develops next-generation quantum sensors based on NV centers in diamond. Her group pioneers nanoscale magnetic imaging of superconducting vortices and skyrmions, advancing spin-based sensing technologies across temperature regimes.
• Boubacar Kanté (UC Berkeley) engineers topological photonic and phononic structures that enable robust and scalable quantum interfaces. His work lays the groundwork for efficient quantum routing and transduction in hybrid systems.
• Shimon Kolkowitz (UC Berkeley) leads efforts in high-coherence spin qubits, specifically leveraging multiplexed NV centers in diamond. His research focuses on entanglement-enhanced sensing, with applications in quantum clocks, precision metrology, and fundamental physics—such as searches for dark matter.
• Amir Safavi-Naeini (Stanford) focuses on quantum acoustics and optomechanics. His lab develops superconducting devices coupled to phononic waveguides and builds key components for quantum memory and transduction.
• David Schuster (Stanford) advances superconducting circuit architectures and circuit QED platforms, enabling simulation of complex quantum systems and hybrid integration with solid-state emitters.
• Alp Sipahigil (UC Berkeley) integrates solid-state quantum emitters into photonic circuits. His work builds the foundations for scalable quantum networks and long-distance entanglement distribution.