Discovery Days 2025: The FSU Quantum Initiative Honors Student Research and Possibilities
FSU Discovery Days 2025
During the week-long Discovery Days 2025, Florida State University (FSU) showcased its leadership in quantum science and engineering (QSE) by showcasing its Quantum Initiative. The program highlighted how undergraduate students might get involved in this quickly developing sector while showcasing the most recent quantum research.
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the original creation of quantum mechanics and in anticipation of the field’s potential, the celebration took place in conjunction with the United Nations’ designation of 2025 as the Year of Quantum Science and Technology.
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Quantum Science’s Significance
The foundation of quantum science and engineering (QSE) is quantum mechanics, which describes how matter behaves at atomic and subatomic scales, which are incomprehensible to classical physics. Utilizing uncommon quantum features for practical use, such as superposition (the simultaneous existence of multiple states in a quantum system) and particles’ dual behavior as waves and particles, is the goal of quantum engineering.
Precise sensors, impenetrable encryption, and quantum computers that can solve some complicated tasks ten times quicker than conventional computers are all possible outcomes of the predicted advances in quantum technologies.
The goal of the effort was reaffirmed by Mike Shatruk, head of FSU Quantum, who said that quantum is “incredibly important for technologies that will make a huge impact on our world.” “Building a comprehensive program to develop the workforce that will develop future breakthroughs” is what he stated FSU Quantum is doing. In the field of Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST) research, FSU has become a regional and national leader.
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Quantum Materials and Faculty Perspectives
More than 70 people eager to learn about quantum science attended the Discovery Days program, which was organized by Assistant Professor of Physics Cyprian Lewandowski. Lewandowski pointed out that although it can take some time for students whose knowledge of physics is based on classical mechanics to adjust to quantum notions, studying the subject opens up an exciting new area of contemporary science.
Experts from the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (National MagLab), the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, and the College of Arts and Sciences discussed subjects including superposition and quantum computing.
Quantum materials are substances whose behavior or attributes, such as their electrical, magnetic, or optical properties, are determined by quantum mechanics, according to Professor Vladimir Dobrosavljevic of the Department of Physics. Topological insulators, which act as insulators on the inside but conduct electricity on the outside, and superconductors, which conduct electricity without resistance at low temperatures, are two examples.
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Highlights of Student Research
Students presented their work at a poster session after the teacher talks.
Tunneling, Superconductors, and Nolan Scales
Nolan Scales, a senior in the Physics Department, works as a research assistant at the National MagLab, which is based at FSU. Superconductors and quantum tunneling—a process in which a particle penetrates through a barrier that it shouldn’t have enough energy to get through—are studied with the aid of scales.
According to Scales, there is a chance that a particle will tunnel through to the other substance in the quantum world, even though it is impossible to move through a barrier in the classical world. Scales, who tests superconductors and their quantum tunneling capabilities in a condensed matter lab, said he is happy he decided to enter the lab since he enjoys learning about new facets of quantum physics every day.
Quantum Computer Emulators and Mia Reynolds
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering PhD student Mia Reynolds presented her work on creating a quantum computer emulator. This emulator simulates how quantum bits, or qubits, behave.
In order to reduce interference that can compromise the qubits’ capacity to maintain superposition, real quantum computers frequently need to run at cryogenic temperatures. Because it is costly and challenging to sustain very low temperatures, researchers develop, test, and tune quantum circuits and algorithms in advance using emulators and simulations. “What you run on an actual quantum computer is perfect, or as close to perfect as possible,” Reynolds said. To make it as close to perfect as possible when you get to a real quantum computer, we accomplish all of that in emulators and simulations. The creation of a scalable quantum computing ecosystem depends on this emulation work, which is essential for reducing error rates and cooling needs.
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Creating the Workforce of the Future
The talent pipeline required for future technologies is being developed by the FSU Quantum Initiative. As the first program in Florida to offer accredited quantum education, the effort is creating a graduate certificate in Quantum Information Science and Technology. FSU is also developing a short course to expose high school pupils to quantum computing and building an undergraduate quantum science lab.
FSU has invested $20 million in the project, including the Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building (IRCB), which houses FSU Quantum’s headquarters.
“Don’t fall in love with the idea of quantum only as you know it now… in the future, it will be your job to give us something new that we can celebrate,” said Tomas Orlando, a researcher at the National MagLab, as a way to encourage students.
