Urbana-Champaign, IL — The National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has released a story on improved access to IBM Quantum computing systems for UofI researchers through the Chicago Quantum Exchange. NCSA is assisting by coupling researchers with allocations to IBM quantum computing systems.
“This is exciting because there is growing interest in trying out quantum computing across many different research fields,” said Brian DeMarco, director of IQUIST, the Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center. “The new opportunity for researchers demonstrates the strength of our partnerships in quantum with IBM through the IBM-Illinois Discovery Accelerator Institute and with the Chicago Quantum Exchange.”
The Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) is an intellectual hub for advancing the science and engineering of quantum information between the CQE community, across the Midwest and around the globe. Its mission is to connect leading academic talent, top scientific facilities and prominent members and partners to advance the science and engineering of quantum information, train the quantum workforce of tomorrow and drive the local and national quantum economy.
NCSA Research Scientist Santiago Núñez-Corrales serves as the liaison between campus researchers, CQE and IBM Quantum, registering users for allocations on the quantum computing systems and assisting them in their research computing goals.
“Our mission at NCSA entails harnessing new developments in computing technologies to solve challenges across scientific and scholarly communities,” Núñez-Corrales. “Quantum computing has become one of these and we are excited to collaborate with IQUIST to facilitate access to quantum resources at IBM – an industry leader in quantum hardware and software – through a hub facilitated by the Chicago Quantum Exchange. Quantum computing represents a rich field of opportunities for scientific discovery and engineering applications. This new campus resource contributes to placing UIUC at the forefront of that race. We look forward to engaging with faculty members and research staff on campus in this new call to adventure.
André Schleife, an associate professor in Materials Science & Engineering, is one of the first UIUC researchers to take advantage of this new opportunity. Schleife is using this unique resource to explore the use of quantum computers for simulating the properties of modern materials.
“Me and my students cannot wait to see the potential of this revolutionary, new approach to computing for studying excitons and defect states in materials,” Schleife said. “Being able to access these forefront technologies as a researcher is what makes it so exciting that Illinois takes a leading role in the Quantum revolution.”
For more information or to get involved with quantum computing, please contact Núñez-Corrales at nunezco2@illinois.edu.
