Applications of quantum mechanics are poised to revolutionize the worlds of engineering, sensing, computing, metrology and communications. SRI is emerging as a global leader and innovator in applied quantum sciences.
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 also proud to be the co-leader of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), positioning the institute at the forefront of the quantum community.
Our work
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NIST awards funding to strengthen advanced manufacturing for critical and emerging technologies
SRI will develop a Quantum Technology Manufacturing Roadmap that benefits multiple quantum application areas
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) marks World Quantum Day
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy showcases (QED-C) in their briefing for World Quantum Day
Photonics in the early days of the quantum age
SRI’s Celia Merzbacher discusses QED-C’s quest to address quantum supply chain gaps
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)
The 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. The 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.
Associated team
