Los Alamos National Laboratory forms Center for Quantum Computing

Los Alamos National Laboratory has formed the Center for Quantum Computing. The center will bring together the Laboratory's diverse quantum computing research capabilities. Headquartered in downtown Los Alamos, the center will consolidate the Laboratory's expertise in national security applications, quantum algorithms, quantum computer science and workforce development in a shared research space. Mark Chadwick, associate Laboratory director for Simulation, Computing and Theory, said the new center of excellence will bring together the Laboratory's quantum computing research capabilities that support Department of Energy, Defense and New Mexico state initiatives. He said this development highlights the Laboratory's commitment to supporting the next generation of U.S. scientific and technological innovation in quantum computing, especially as the technology can support key Los Alamos missions. The center will bring together as many as three dozen quantum researchers from across the Lab. The center's formation occurs as Laboratory researchers partner with private industry and on a number of state and federal quantum computing initiatives. Laboratory researchers may include those working with the DARPA Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, the DOE's Quantum Science Center, the National Nuclear Security Administration Advanced Simulation and Computing program's Beyond Moore's Law project and multiple Laboratory Directed Research and Development projects. The center will also host the Quantum Computing Summer School, a 10-week fellowship program that connects quantum-interested undergraduate and graduate students with the theoretical foundations of quantum computation and the programming of commercial quantum computers. The Quantum Computing Summer School enrolls up to 25 students per year. Carleton Coffrin, quantum science coordinator for the Laboratory, said he is thrilled to see these quantum computing teams coming together under one roof. He said each team is world-leading in their specific domain expertise.