Research

The mission of the NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Hybrid Quantum Architectures and Networks (HQAN) is to tackle the challenge of scaling quantum processors by pursuing an alternative paradigm: distributed quantum processing, and hybrid architectures that involve different qubit types. This modular approach leverages the strengths of different quantum systems and has the potential to unlock quantum information processing at large scales. New applications enabled by this approach may include unconditionally secure information searching and multi-party computation.

HQAN personnel are leading the fundamental science and engineering needed to develop a multi-node, full-stack system, ranging from quantum processor design and control to a high-level software application interface.

Already, we have made key advancements such as demonstrating runnable multi-qubit algorithms on neutral-atom processors, achieving interchangeable superconducting modules with high-fidelity inter-chip operations, implementing a modular four-node superconducting processor with an all-to-all reconfigurable routing architecture, and demonstrating a complementary three-node superconducting quantum network supporting entanglement distribution and quantum secret sharing.

We have also established telecom-band atom–photon links and microwave-to-optical transduction for scalable modular computing, realized high-fidelity telecom-band atom–photon entanglement from an optical tweezer array with parallelizable multi-channel operation, and achieved faithful quantum teleportation using a nonlinear nanophotonic Bell-state analyzer operating directly at telecom wavelengths, providing compatibility with low-loss fiber networks and advancing long-distance modular connectivity.

Our approach is convergent at its core and brings together researchers with expertise from chemistry, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mathematics, materials science and engineering, molecular engineering, and physics.