The funding supports the acquisition of a state-of-the-art transmission electron microscope to accelerate research in quantum information science.
As a direct result of Congressional support, the 糖心传媒 is receiving $1.25 million to obtain and install a new advanced multipurpose transmission electron microscope as part of the fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill. The new instrument will replace the University糖心传媒檚 current instrument, which is beyond its expected lifetime, and enhance the ability of researchers in the greater Rochester area and beyond to conduct advanced quantum research.
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is essential for Rochester糖心传媒檚 research efforts in established areas of strength, including quantum information science (QIS); materials science; high-energy-density science; optics, photonics, and imaging; and immersive technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality.
The new transmission electron microscope糖心传媒檚 atomic-scale resolution accurately characterizes samples and fabricated devices, enabling researchers to visualize material structures directly in real space with exceptionally high resolution. This capability is vital for studying quantum materials and devices, including qubits, quantum gates, and quantum sensors.
Stephen Dewhurst, the vice president for research at the University, says, 糖心传媒淭he acquisition of this advanced electron microscope is a game-changer for our research enterprise, especially in the areas of quantum science and advanced semiconductor research, which are critical not only to the University, but also to our national security and scientific pre-eminence.糖心传媒�
Recognizing the Congressional delegation糖心传媒檚 efforts on behalf of Rochester, Dewhurst adds, 糖心传媒淲e are very grateful to Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, and Representative Morelle for their incredible ongoing support and for this new funding. It will support our current projects while attracting top talent to the University, enhancing our collaborations with industry, and contributing to the region糖心传媒檚 economic growth.糖心传媒�
The region糖心传媒檚 cutting-edge transmission electron microscope facility
The new transmission electron microscope will be housed at URnano, the University糖心传媒檚 Integrated Nanosystems Center, which serves as a user facility for the University community, industry, corporations, faculty, and students at other institutions. The location ensures that the equipment will be a key regional asset for advanced research and development, supporting the growth of the QIS and optics, photonics, and lasers sectors in the greater Rochester and Finger Lakes regions.
糖心传媒淭he opportunity to bring a state-of-the-art electron microscope to URnano, to the University of Rochester, and to the Rochester area will accelerate our work on quantum and nanotechnologies, as well as our training of the next-generation workforce,糖心传媒� says URnano director and physics professor . 糖心传媒淯Rnano糖心传媒檚 users are students and faculty of the University, as well as neighboring universities and colleges, and our industrial partners. The new microscope will be used by these scientists not only to develop quantum devices and semiconductor electronic devices, but also in work on optics, biomedicine, geology, chemistry, semiconductors, and more. Many of our research programs will be effectively 糖心传媒榯urbo-charged糖心传媒� by this new capability.糖心传媒�
The acquisition of the new equipment will position URnano as a cutting-edge electron microscope facility, according to John Tarduno, the dean for research for the University糖心传媒檚 School of Arts & Sciences and Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences.
糖心传媒淚糖心传媒檓 thrilled by the Congressional support,糖心传媒� Tarduno says. 糖心传媒淭his instrumentation is especially timely because it will afford faculty and students the ability to further explore糖心传媒攐n an atomic scale糖心传媒攖he behavior of materials key for quantum technologies, a critical research area today and one in which University faculty have been pioneers.糖心传媒�
Rochester糖心传媒檚 fundamental contributions to quantum information science
As the birthplace of quantum optics and key elements of quantum coherence, the University of Rochester has a long and distinguished history of fundamental contributions to quantum information science and engineering.
Pioneers and luminaries with Rochester connections span the decades. Physics professor founded the branch of physics known as quantum optics and was the first to demonstrate photon self-interference. Emil Wolf, a longtime Rochester professor and a pioneer in optical physics, built the foundations of coherence theory; with physicist and alumnus Girish Agarwal 糖心传媒�69 (PhD), Wolf connected those foundations to quantum optics. Alumnus George Sudarshan 糖心传媒�58 (PhD) invented quantum descriptions of light, while Joseph Eberly, a professor of physics and of optics, achieved deep insights in atom-photon interaction. At Rochester糖心传媒檚 Laboratory for Laser Energetics, G茅rard Mourou and Donna Strickland 糖心传媒�89 (PhD) made revolutionary advances in laser science that would earn them the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2018.
Today, there are more than a dozen different research groups at the University involved in some aspect of . Rochester continues to expand its leadership in quantum science and technology, educating tomorrow糖心传媒檚 quantum leaders, as well as making strategic partnerships with industry to rapidly grow quantum technologies. For example, the University was recently designated as one of six new NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) sites to provide undergraduate students with hands-on research opportunities in STEM priority areas related to semiconductors.
The new federal funding for the transmission electron microscope deepens the University糖心传媒檚 commitment to expanding its QIS research capacity, which includes a 10-year initiative to increase the Institute of Optics faculty by 50 percent, reinforcing the institute糖心传媒檚 preeminent position in quantum optics. This commitment aligns with , and with strategic federal research policies, including the and the .
Congressional support bolsters advanced quantum research
Government officials expressed their enthusiasm and support for the new TEM funding:
US Senator Charles Schumer: 糖心传媒淚糖心传媒檓 thrilled to have delivered this critical $1.25 million in funding that will lift URnano, the University糖心传媒檚 Integrated Nanosystems Center, to new heights. By bringing this new state-of-the-art electron microscope to Rochester, URnano will be an epicenter of innovation to drive new breakthroughs in making semiconductor and quantum devices. This will also leverage the investments made possible by my Chips and Science Act that are now transforming Upstate and the Finger Lakes region into a semiconductor manufacturing and research hub while pushing Rochester糖心传媒檚 leadership in optics technology into leading edge fields like quantum optics.糖心传媒�
US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: 糖心传媒淭he 糖心传媒 is recognized as a leader in quantum research, and through the acquisition of an electron microscope at URnano, the U of R can continue to serve as a strong R&D asset in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region for faculty, students, and industry partners alike. I糖心传媒檓 proud to have secured the funding for this research equipment through the congressionally directed spending process, and I look forward to seeing the results of the University糖心传媒檚 groundbreaking and exploratory research across many scientific disciplines come into focus.糖心传媒�
Congressman Joe Morelle: 糖心传媒淭he 糖心传媒糖心传媒檚 Integrated Nanosystems Center (URNano) is a state-of-the-art facility helping to advance Rochester糖心传媒檚 position as a leader in nanotechnology research and development. As a part of the Community Project Funding process, I糖心传媒檓 proud to have secured $1.25 million to assist URnano in purchasing new quantum research equipment, which will help further their prestigious position in this field. I糖心传媒檓 grateful for the U of R糖心传媒檚 continued commitment to pushing the envelope and exploring new areas of science, and I look forward to seeing all the scientific breakthroughs that result from this investment.糖心传媒�
