MARYLAND KNOWS THE FUTURE IS QUANTUM
The University of Maryland is a powerhouse of discovery, with decades of experience advancing a field that will help define our nation’s—and the world’s—future.
Quantum can be for us what silicon was for Silicon Valley. This is that big play for the state of Maryland and this entire region.
UMD is a hub for quantum research and development. Here, over 200 quantum scientists and engineers are exploiting the unique properties of quantum physics to usher in a new age of technology: quantum computers capable of currently impossible calculations, ultra-secure quantum networking and exotic new quantum materials.
Propelled by foundational partnerships with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Army Research Laboratory and the Laboratory for Physical Sciences, and fueled by collaborations with major firms like Lockheed Martin and exciting startups like IonQ, UMD is home to an expansive quantum research enterprise that features world-class research institutes, global collaborations and growing government and industry connections.
30+ Years of quantum research at UMD
200+ Researchers, one of the greatest concentrations in the world
200+ Publications per year
#2 Among public institutions in quantum physics
U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools
100+ Graduates in 10 years with Ph.D.s in physics with a quantum science focus
1 Faculty Nobel laureate in quantum physics
William Phillips
The Quantum Capital
The University of Maryland sits at the center of a bustling quantum ecosystem that includes research agencies, private firms, educational partners and innovative startups
University of Maryland Celebrates IonQ's Plans for Remarkable Growth and Scalable Roadmap for Quantum Computing.
technology section
UMD’s quantum research combines physics, computer science, engineering and materials science, resulting in applications with the power to change the world. Maryland stands at the forefront in a range of vital technologies of the future:
Computing
Quantum computers leverage counterintuitive features of quantum physics to execute certain tasks faster than current supercomputers.
Cryptography
Quantum and post-quantum technologies enable new security measures for everything from communication to personal health records to national secrets.
Materials
Completely new exotic materials may improve current devices and open the door to technologies not yet envisioned.
Networks
Scientists are building optical networks to send and receive quantum information over distances large and small.
Machine Learning
Quantum physics could supercharge traditional machine learning. On the flip side, machine learning might help scientists understand and control quantum phenomena.
Systems Research
Bringing together many quantum systems and controlling them in parallel can unlock the ability to simulate complex materials and phenomena that do not occur naturally.
Sensors
Quantum systems have unique properties that can be harnessed to detect subtle environmental changes, leading to better measurement and imaging tools.
Software
Scientists are developing quantum-specific programs that will run on quantum computers and searching for new applications for these revolutionary machines.
How can the tiniest particles lead to the biggest discoveries?
MARYLAND KNOWS THE FUTURE IS QUANTUM
The Mid-Atlantic Quantum Alliance (MQA) was formally launched in January 2020 to accelerate advances in quantum science and engineering and further enhance the region’s primacy in a field that promises to revolutionize society. This alliance brings together world-leading quantum expertise from academia, industry, government agencies, laboratories and research centers with a presence in the region. The MQA serves as an inclusive forum, facilitated by the University of Maryland, for its members to engage and collaborate with each other on education, global thought leadership and building a vibrant and diverse ecosystem to support quantum innovation.
centers section
Quantum Technology Center
The Quantum Technology Center (QTC) joins researchers in engineering and physics to focus on translating quantum physics into innovative technologies.
Joint Quantum Institute
The Joint Quantum Institute (JQI), founded in 2006, is the cornerstone of UMD’s quantum enterprise. Formed as a research partnership between UMD and NIST and supported by the Laboratory for Physical Sciences, JQI is dedicated to the broad study of quantum science—from theory to experiment—on a host of platforms.
Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science
The Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS) is a collaboration with NIST that expands research at the junction of quantum physics, computer science and information theory, enabling the full potential of quantum computing.
Condensed Matter Theory Center
The Condensed Matter Theory Center (CMTC) has made pioneering contributions to exotic approaches to quantum computing now being pursued worldwide.
Quantum Materials Center
The Quantum Materials Center (QMC) is a specialized research center in the Department of Physics where scientists synthesize and explore novel quantum materials with the goal of enabling new quantum device platforms utilizing superconductivity, topology and other quantum phenomena.
LPS Qubit Collaboratory
The LPS Qubit Collaboratory (LQC) is a national Quantum Information Science Research Center hosted at the National Security Agency’s Laboratory for Physical Sciences (LPS) at UMD. LQC advanced the development of qubits through an innovative model of collaboration between the government and a wide range of partners across the country.
The National Quantum Laboratory (QLab)
Established through a partnership between IonQ, Inc., a leading developer of quantum computing devices, and the University of Maryland, the National Quantum Laboratory (QLab) enables the scientific community to pursue world-leading research through hands-on access to a commercial-grade quantum computer. UMD-affiliated students, faculty, researchers, staff and partners across the country have an unprecedented opportunity to gain experience with IonQ’s industry-leading trapped-ion quantum computer hardware and collaborate with IonQ scientists and engineers.
NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Robust Quantum Simulation
Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and led by the University of Maryland, the NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Robust Quantum Simulation brings together computer scientists, engineers and physicists from five academic institutions and the federal government. The institute is focused on developing quantum simulation devices that can understand, and thereby exploit, the rich behavior of complex quantum systems.
How will qubits revolutionize our region’s economy?
MARYLAND KNOWS THE FUTURE IS QUANTUM
Contact Us
For more information about the future of quantum at UMD, email quantum@umd.edu.