The seminar “Unlocking the Quantum World: Research and Innovation in Quantum Information Science,” led by Dr. Kristi Beck, Ph.D., Director of the Livermore Center for Quantum Science at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), introduced students to how quantum principles are transforming fields such as computing, materials research and advanced imaging.
The lecture was part of the ongoing collaboration between LPC and LLNL, a partnership that brings national lab researchers to campus to share current work with students. The seminar provided a bridge between classroom instruction and local research, giving students early exposure to fields they typically encounter much later in their academic careers.
“The world we’re used to is governed by classical physics,” Beck said, describing the predictable rules that control everyday objects. She compared this to quantum systems operating under “very small and very cold” conditions and following regulations that differ from those in daily life.
Beck gave an overview of quantum bits, or “qubits,” and explained that their behavior differs from classical on-off states. She said qubits can exist in multiple states simultaneously, describing them as “involved at the same time” rather than fixed in a single position.
She then shifted to the hardware used to build quantum computers, focusing on superconducting qubits. She showed a typical circuit used in the field and explained how researchers cool these devices to extremely low temperatures inside large refrigeration systems. Beck described the setup as a mix of physics and engineering, with layers of shielding and wiring surrounding small chips that hold qubits.
Another part of the lecture focused on trapped-ion systems, in which charged atoms are held in place by carefully controlled electric fields. The hardware, Beck said, is central to making these systems function.
“These ion traps are an essential part of any ion-trap-based quantum computer,” she told the audience.
She also described how newer, 3D printed trap designs enable researchers to build more stable structures and better control of ions during experiments.
The final part of the lecture examined imaging techniques that use pairs of entangled photons to gather information from samples. The method involves sending one photon through a material while its partner serves as a timing reference, allowing researchers to track how the signal changes over time.
“You start with these two photons that are put into the system at the same time,” Beck said, explaining how the paired signals help reveal details traditional microscopes can miss.
Beck’s lecture concluded with a short Q&A session, giving students a chance to ask about the examples she covered and the research behind them. After the final question, the event concluded, marking another collaboration between LPC and LLNL.
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TOP PHOTO: Dr. Kristi Beck, director of the Livermore Center for Quantum Science, takes questions from students after her “Unlocking the Quantum World” talk at Las Positas College on Nov. 13. The presentation detailed the progress and potential of quantum science technology. (Photo by Jaxyn Good/The Express)
Kian Amininejad is the News Editor of The Express. Follow him on X @Kian_Amininejad.
