University of Pittsburgh officials say its new, nearly $12 million quantum research center has the equipment and technology needed to move science and engineering research forward.
A ribbon-cutting for the Western Pennsylvania Quantum Information Core lab was held Monday at Pitt’s Old Engineering Hall in Oakland.
“WP-QIC helps the entire region level up, giving our researchers a more comprehensive, integrated platform for quantum experimentation, from fundamental physics to emerging applications,” said Rob Rutenbar, senior vice chancellor for research. “WP-QIC is a natural progression for our region, an investment that matches Pittsburgh to ambition and a resource that will serve the region for years to come.”
Put simply, quantum physics is the study of matter and energy.
The WP-QIC includes cryogenic magnetic equipment, high-powered microscopes, and dilution refrigerators crucial for quantum research. Researchers will be able to synthesize, fabricate and characterize quantum materials under extreme conditions.
The initiative involves multiple schools within Pitt. WP-QIC is part of the Pittsburgh Quantum Institute and involves faculty at Pitt, Carnegie Mellon and Duquesne universities.
For years, Pitt researchers “have played a quiet but important role” in the foundations of quantum sciences, asking questions about matter and how it behaves, said Adam Leibovich, dean of the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.
“WP-QIC gives that work a new home, and a new toolkit,” Leibovich said. “It brings people together: faculty, students and other partners, collaborating in the space designed for sharing ideas and learning from one another.”
Michele Manuel, dean of Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering, said the WP-QIC is the next chapter in Pittsburgh’s industrial story.
“The quantum industry is hiring, and it needs engineers who can build, test and deploy these technologies. For faculty recruitment, a facility like this is a game-changer,” Manuel said. “The best people in quantum go where the instruments are, and now the instruments are in Pittsburgh.”
Pittsburgh is uniquely positioned to lead advancements in quantum research, said Bruce Childers, dean of Pitt’s School of Computing and Information.
The intersection of quantum research and Pittsburgh’s medical ecosystem could, over time, have the potential to help physicians detect diseases like Alzheimer’s earlier, identify tumors at more treatable stages and better understand brain activity, Childers said.
“Quantum is not just a physics story, it’s not just an engineering story, it’s not just a computing information story,” he said. “It’s actually a story of collaboration to address the biggest issues facing us today.”