At the lowest level, all of matter is quantum mechanical, although at large scales, often the quantum properties are averaged out. PQI members at Pitt and CMU study fundamental quantum properties of matter, with the aim of new materials with special properties, developing new platforms for quantum computing and sensing, and informing biological and chemical science based on quantum properties.
- Experimental Groups
-
- Elizabeth Dickey utilizes electron microscopy and spectroscopy techniques to measure the local structure and chemistry of materials at the atomic to nanometer length scales.
- The Fullerton Lab uses ions to control charge transport in two-dimensional (2D) materials for low-power electronics.
- Sean Garrett-Roe focuses on the robust understanding of the structure and dynamics of complex materials using ultrafast dynamics.
- The Gui Group is working on the design and synthesis of novel quantum materials in chemistry ways, such as superconductors, magnetic topological materials, and quantum spin liquids.
- The Hunt Lab studies quantum states of low-dimensional materials via electrical measurements and scanning tunneling microscopy.
- Paul Leu focuses on designing and understanding the mechanical, chemical, and electronic properties of quantum materials through computational modeling and experimental approaches.
- The Levy Lab focuses on the development of quantum-scale electronic materials and devices with future applications in quantum computation.
- Sufei Shi's Lab focuses on low-dimensional quantum materials, which might lead to novel applications in electronic and opto-electronic devices.
- Theoretical/Computational Groups
-
- The Camacho Lab has developed a number of novel methods for improving the efficiency and efficacy of computational drug discovery, based on methods to predict protein-protein interactions.
- The Dai Group studies sophisticated mathematical and numerical novel methods to study tensor network states in low-dimensional physics.
- The Givi Group is building and modeling quantum simulation for Aeroscience and Engineering, including simulations of turbulence.
- The Isayev Lab focuses on solving fundamental chemical problems with machine learning, molecular modeling, and quantum mechanics.
- The Jordan Group is interested in many aspects of quantum chemistry, including the accommodation of excess charge by water clusters, long-range correlation effects, quantum Monte Carlo methods, and sustainability.
- W. Vincent Liu's Group does theory of quantum matter (ultracold atoms and molecules, dense light, spin lattices, and correlated electrons) as well as its crossover to particle/nuclear physics.
- The Majetich Group focuses on the fundamentals of magnetic nanoparticles that have very uniform sizes, as well as possible applications in magnetic storage and logic, permanent magnets, high frequency composites, and biomedicine.
- The Mendoza Arenas Group uses specialized numerical simulations based on tensor network theory for the study of strongly correlated quantum systems, as well as classical fluid turbulence.
- The Mong Group uses density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) algorithms to efficiently write the quantum ground state wavefunction in terms of classical information, for a deeper understanding of phases in higher dimensions, as well tools to simulate new material properties before they are created in the lab.
- David Pekker focuses on describing and controlling dynamics of quantum many-body systems, addressing fundamental problems of ultracold atom and condensed matter.
- The Widom Group focuses on theoretical modeling of novel materials in condensed matter and biological physics settings.
PQI members work in multiple groups on quantum fundamentals including:
- Pitt IQ Initiative focuses on the interdisciplinary areas of common interest to quantum condensed matter, atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO), and high energy physics (HEP), with members joining from traditionally disjointed backgrounds.