Focus areas
Quantum sensing
SRI is focused on developing state-of-art quantum-enabled sensors in small form factors to enable stand-off sensing, imaging and PNT applications.
- Matter-wave rotation sensors: A novel guided matter-wave interferometry within a chip-based optical trap, leading to matter-wave-based rotation sensing while operating on a dynamic platform. SRI is executing a long-term plan for a high-performance gyro.
- Chip-scale cold-atom platforms: Flexible, small (toward cubic-cm) platforms for high-precision measurements, utilizing SRI’s patented magnet-free mini-vacuum-pump technology.
- Atom-based RF electrometry: Based on deep Rydberg-atom-physics expertise, these sensors exhibit extremely wide tunable bandwidth (MHz-THz) which provides high-sensitivity sensing in a small footprint (sub RF-wavelength). Such technology is scalable to applications requiring sensor arrays.
- Atom-based magnetometry: Applicable to magnetic signatures, including bio-magnetic, anomaly detection and proximity sensing.
Quantum networking
The next 20 years will see a thrust toward the need to network quantum-enabled sensing nodes. SRI is building and demonstrating expertise in:
- Entangled-network components
- Entangled-photon generation techniques
- Quantum sensors networked with both quantum and classical technologies
- Developing new concepts of operation for distributed, networked, quantum sensors
QED-C (Quantum Economic Development Consortium)
Quantum Economic Development Consortium’s mission is to enable and grow a robust commercial quantum-based industry and associated supply chain in the United States. QED-C is developing the roadmap and laying the groundwork for the future quantum workforce and helping build a thriving quantum economy.
QED-C has support from multiple agencies and a diverse set of industry, academic and other stakeholders. QED-C participants are working together to identify gaps in technology, standards and the workforce and to address those gaps through collaboration.
Quantum Technology Manufacturing Roadmap (QTMR)
To support the development of technology critical to the quantum industry, SRI and its team of industry, national lab, and academic partners are developing a first of its kind Quantum Technology Manufacturing Roadmap (QTMR) focused on supply chain gaps and barriers to advanced manufacturing capability. SRI will leverage ties with QED-C members to establish a separate consortium to develop the roadmap that will guide development across the emerging industry and identify the necessary manufacturing technologies and capabilities. The QTMR will offer guidance to the broader community on ways to accelerate progress and growth in the quantum sector.
Our work
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Elizabeth Fortescue: Translating quantum models into prototypes
Fortescue is using her mechanical engineering expertise to bring quantum concepts to reality for physicists.
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SRI-led team demonstrates a magnetic sensor that detects biomagnetic signals
The Atomic Magnetometer for Biological Imaging in Earth’s Native Terrain (AMBIIENT) analyzes signals that can diagnose some medical conditions.
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Celia Merzbacher testifies before House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
Merzbacher, executive director of the SRI-managed Quantum Economic Development Consortium, spoke on the importance of quantum programs, workforce, and R&D.
SRI International’s blend of government and internal funding creates opportunities to research and develop innovative quantum technologies that solve important problems in a variety of fields. SRI’s proven ability to produce marketable products from our research will result in new quantum technologies entering the marketplace.
For over two decades, SRI has been developing precision quantum sensors to enable next-generation sensing and communications systems, from chip-scale clocks to cold-atom based sensor systems, including developing the sophisticated integration technology required to move these sensors out of the lab.
Today, SRI is rapidly expanding its quantum capabilities into several interconnected focus areas to solve problems in sensing and communications, as well as ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) and PNT (position, navigation and timing). SRI is doing this by leveraging its unique mix of deep expertise across both quantum and modern classical research areas to find new ways to apply quantum solutions to outstanding R&D problems.
SRI is proud to manage QED-C, positioning the institute at the forefront of the quantum community.
Associated team
Associated publications
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Quantum Optimization Heuristics with an Application to Knapsack Problems
This paper introduces two techniques that make the standard Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm more suitable for constrained optimization problems.
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Portable Magnetometry for Detection of Biomagnetism in Ambient Environments
This paper presents a method of optical magnetometry that is able to detect biomagnetic signals generated from the human brain and heart in Earth’s ambient environment.