Quantum Buzz (No Bee)

As LSU leverages its current successes in the field of quantum information science, a large part of the effort to create educational ecosystems that stimulate innovation relies on strong relationships with partner universities and researchers across Louisiana. One aspect of that effort is QuILT Day, and the fourth will take place on LSU’s campus this Friday, July 19.

July 17, 2019

It’s not a quilting bee—QuILT stands for Quantum Information Technologies in Louisiana, which brings together Mark Wilde of the LSU Department of Physics & Astronomy and the Center for Computation & Technology, Ryan Glasser of Tulane University, and Peter Bierhorst of University of New Orleans. Like at previous gatherings, they’ll join together with researchers from around Louisiana for a day of quantum information science (and related) presentations, with the goal of fostering future collaborations and expanding the state’s overall research effort.

The lectures will be held in room 435 on the fourth floor of Nicholson Hall.

 

Mark Wilde, how is this fourth day different from previous ones?

We’re having a QuILT Day each semester (fall, spring, summer), and we rotate venues between LSU, Tulane, and UNO. The tradition started in May last year when Professor Ryan Glasser of Tulane and I realized that organizing such an event would be of great utility to all quantum scientists in Louisiana and beyond. What's different about this fourth one is that a significant number of undergrad students are here for the summer at LSU, conducting research in our quantum science and technologies group, and several of them will deliver talks about their research. It’s impressive how talented these undergrads are and how quickly they can make progress on challenging research questions. These undergrads are coming to LSU from states all around the country, including Florida, New Jersey, etc.

 
What impact have these days made so far?

QuILT days have been essential for scholarly collaboration between various research groups in Louisiana. Several groups have put their ideas together to submit research proposals to federal agencies on quantum information, computing, and related topics. Another big benefit is that we've had outside participation from researchers in Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi, and they are interested in offering our grad students employment. Related, there’s a growing demand for expertise in quantum information and computing in industry, and QuILT Day is a great opportunity for us to advertise our talent and strengths in this area.

 
Why are you and LSU involved?

LSU has a remarkably vigorous research program in quantum science and technologies—and for many years now, under the leadership of Professors Jonathan Dowling and Hwang Lee. More recently, Professor Omar Magana-Loaiza has joined our team as a quantum optics experimentalist, performing cutting-edge experiments that are not only foundational but application-oriented—for example, for quantum-secured communication. LSU has a strong interest in developing quantum science efforts more broadly in Louisiana with our colleagues at Tulane, UNO, and elsewhere, and QuILT Day is an immediate and obvious way for us to reach beyond the boundaries of LSU campus. For example, Professor Ryan Glasser of Tulane and his students have experimental expertise with the technique of four-wave mixing, which we do not have at LSU, and Professor Peter Bierhorst of UNO and his students have theoretical expertise on a topic called device-independent quantum key distribution, which is essential to enable a future quantum-secured Internet.

 

For a complete program schedule and abstracts, there is more information on QuILT Day here.

 

Elsa Hahne
LSU Office of Research & Economic Development
225-578-4774
ehahne@lsu.edu