Quantum Colab workshop: accelerating quantum research through collaboration

The Quantum Colab has hosted a workshop on growing superconducting materials, convening researchers from its three partner universities to share their expertise and discuss opportunities for collaborative projects.

The Quantum Colaboratory (Quantum Colab) has hosted a workshop on growing superconducting materials, convening researchers from its three partner universities to share their expertise and discuss opportunities for collaborative projects. The workshop was facilitated by the University of Waterloo and took place online on December 05, 2022.

The Quantum Colab is a partnership between the Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute (Blusson QMI) at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Institut Quantique at Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS), and Transformative Quantum Technologies (TQT) at the University of Waterloo (UW) aimed at accelerating quantum research and technology development by providing access to world-leading research expertise and facilities that exist within the universities.

Speakers:

Saba SadeghiLead Growth and Fabrication Scientist, University of Waterloo: High quality, high residual resistivity ratio Nb thin film growth process development, using an Omicron ultra-high vacuum (UHV) sputtering system, and characterization.

Matthias KrougProcess Engineer, the University of British Columbia: Process of reactive sputtering using an AJA deposition system and methods of characterizing NbTiN thin film quality.

Bruce DavidsonSenior Scientist, Quantum Materials and Device Foundry Manager, the University of British Columbia: Use of molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) to stabilize superconductor phases and study their transport properties in magnetic fields, and techniques like angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) to explore their electronic structure.

Ibrahim NsanzinezaSenior Superconducting Device Scientist, University of Waterloo: Growth of Al/AlOx/Al Josephson Junctions for superconducting-based devices using the Plassys molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) 550 SL3- ultra-high vacuum (UHV) electron beam evaporator.

“The workshop provided a good platform for discussion and knowledge exchange between the speakers and participants. The Quantum Colaboratory aims to provide an environment that enables all interested users, from researchers to non-profits and industry, to benefit from the highly specialized capabilities and facilities that exist at our institutions and form collaborative research and development projects that could strengthen Canada’s leadership in quantum technologies.” – Mr. Pinder Dosanjh, University of British Columbia Blusson QMI Operations Manager.

“The Canadian government has devoted significant resources to building up specific capabilities at the three CFREF-funded quantum programs in Canada. The Quantum Colaboratory is an exercise in extracting greater value out of these investments, by fostering communication and collaboration between experts at the three constituent nodes. In working together, we can share unique technical and human resources that each node has developed. This will accelerate the research of the entire Canadian quantum community.” – Dr. Nathan Nelson – Fitzpatrick, University of Waterloo’s Quantum-Nano Fabrication and Characterization Facility Director.

“The Quantum Colaboratory provides a clear path for the continued development of tools and processes necessary to advance quantum sciences and technologies in Canada. Our three-university partnership will foster collaborations through various activities such as this past workshop and leverage the expertise of the different nodes, leading to impactful outcomes that we could otherwise not achieve alone.”  – Mathieu Juan, Université de Sherbrooke Quantum Fablab Director.