Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems with Anna Grassellino

Introduction:
In this milestone 50th episode of The New Quantum Era, your host Sebastian Hassinger welcomes Dr. Anna Grassellino, a leading figure in quantum information science and the director of the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center at Fermilab, or SQMS. Dr. Grassellino discusses the center’s mission to advance quantum computing and quantum sensing through innovations in superconducting materials and devices. The conversation explores the intersection of quantum hardware development, high energy physics applications, and the collaborative efforts driving progress in the field. We recorded our conversation at the APS 2025 Global Summit with assistance from the American Physical Society and from Quantum Machines, Inc. 

Main Topics Discussed:

• The vision and mission of the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems (SQMS) Center, including its role in the Department of Energy’s National Quantum Initiative and its focus on developing quantum systems with superior performance for scientific and technological applications.
• Advances in superconducting quantum hardware, particularly the use of high-quality superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities and their integration with two-dimensional superconducting circuits to enhance qubit coherence and scalability.
• Key technical challenges in scaling up quantum systems, such as mitigating decoherence, improving materials, and developing large-scale cryogenic platforms for quantum experiments.
• The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between quantum engineers, materials scientists, and high energy physicists to achieve breakthroughs in quantum technology.
• Future directions for the SQMS Center, including the pursuit of quantum advantage in high energy physics algorithms, quantum sensing, and the development of robust error correction strategies.

Notable Papers from Fermi’s SQMS Center:

• Quantum computing hardware for HEP algorithms and sensing (arXiv:2204.08605) – Overview of SQMS’s approach to quantum hardware for high energy physics applications, including architectures and error correction.
• A large millikelvin platform at Fermilab for quantum computing applications (arXiv:2108.10816) – Description of the design and goals of a large-scale cryogenic platform for hosting advanced quantum devices at millikelvin temperatures.
• Searches for New Particles, Dark Matter, and Gravitational Waves 
• Additional recent preprints and publications from SQMS can be found on the SQMS Center’s publications page, including work on nonlinear quantum mechanics bounds, materials for quantum devices, and quantum error correction strategies.