News & EventsDepartment Events
Events
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Mar7
EVENT DETAILS
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Abstract: Advances in the quantum sciences have the potential to dramatically change the world around us, impacting computation, climate change, medicine, and cybersecurity, while also enabling the exploration of novel physics. Currently, subfields within quantum science, such as quantum information, in which controllable quantum systems are used as a resource for computing, sensing, and other applications, and quantum materials, which studies the exotic properties of materials in which the details of the quantum-mechanical wave functions of electrons play an essential role, are largely separate. However, by leveraging approaches and techniques from each, there is potential to make radical advances in the two fields, which I will show through the discussion of research I have performed in both fields. First, I will present an experiment in which a spin qubit is used to measure proximal magnetic fields in order to extend the qubit’s coherence time. Second, I will present measurements of the superfluid density of infinite-layer nickelate superconductors, and describe how that enables investigation of the origins of superconductivity in the material. Finally, I will discuss future experiments that unite these fields, creating new opportunities for investigating fundamental physics and improving quantum devices.
Shannon Harvey is a postdoctoral scholar in the Applied Physics Department at Stanford University, studying the newly discovered nickelate superconductors. She received her PhD. in Physics from Harvard University in 2019, where she worked on spin qubits, one of the possible building blocks for a quantum computer. She won the Goldhaber Prize and White Teaching Prize from the Harvard Physics Department, and was a recipient of the NDSEG fellowship.
TIME Monday, March 7, 2022 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
LOCATION L440, Technological Institute map it
CONTACT ECE Admin Team eceadmin@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
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May19
EVENT DETAILS
lessThere is now a broad agreement that photonics is essential for reducing energy consumption of AI hardware through optical interconnects, but quantum technologies also need photonics for scaling. This is true even for “non-photonic” quantum systems based on superconductors, or trapped atoms and ions in vacuum. For example, new types of spatial light modulators and switches are needed to trap and control atoms and ions, microwave to optical quantum transducers are needed for networking superconducting processors, chip-scale laser systems are required for controlling atoms or spin qubits in solids, and very high efficiency integrated photonics is needed for quantum networks, sensors, and chip-based semiconductor quantum systems. Unfortunately, the desired level of performance and some of the functionalities are not available even in today’s best integrated photonics. We show how this can be addressed by photonics inverse design combined with emerging materials, new nanofabrication and heterogenous integration approaches. Specific examples include development of miniaturized titanium:sapphire lasers and amplifiers on chip, quantum network nodes in diamond, and a quantum simulator with silicon carbide color centers. Classical photonic technologies that will be discussed include fast, compact and error-free chip-scale optical interconnects, as well as CMOS compatible laser isolators and frequency stabilizers.
Jelena Vuckovic (PhD Caltech 2002) is the Jensen Huang Professor of Global Leadership, Professor of Electrical Engineering and, by courtesy, of Applied Physics at Stanford. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and an External Scientific Member of the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics. Her awards include the R.W. Wood Prize from Optica, Zeiss Award, Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship, Geoffrey Frew Fellowship from the Australian Academy of Sciences, the IET A. F. Harvey Engineering Research Prize, Mildred Dresselhaus Lectureship from MIT, and the Humboldt Prize. She is a Fellow of the APS, Optica, and IEEE, a lead editor of Physical Review Applied, and an Editor of PNAS.
TIME Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
LOCATION L440, Technological Institute map it
CONTACT Amani Walker amani.walker@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
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May20
EVENT DETAILS
lessJJoin us for our weekly Electrical and Computer Engineering Speaker Series, where innovation meets insight. Each week, we host a distinguished speaker from academia, industry, or research who will share cutting-edge developments, emerging trends, and real-world applications shaping the future of ECE.
From advances in artificial intelligence and embedded systems to breakthroughs in communications, power systems, and beyond, these talks are designed to spark curiosity, inspire new ideas, and connect our community with leaders in the field.
Whether you're a student, researcher, or simply passionate about technology, this series offers a valuable opportunity to learn, ask questions, and engage with exciting work at the forefront of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Stay tuned for weekly updates on upcoming topics and speakers!
TIME Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
LOCATION L440, Technological Institute map it
CONTACT Amani Walker amani.walker@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
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Jun3
EVENT DETAILS
lessJoin us for our weekly Electrical and Computer Engineering Speaker Series, where innovation meets insight. Each week, we host a distinguished speaker from academia, industry, or research who will share cutting-edge developments, emerging trends, and real-world applications shaping the future of ECE.
From advances in artificial intelligence and embedded systems to breakthroughs in communications, power systems, and beyond, these talks are designed to spark curiosity, inspire new ideas, and connect our community with leaders in the field.
Whether you're a student, researcher, or simply passionate about technology, this series offers a valuable opportunity to learn, ask questions, and engage with exciting work at the forefront of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Stay tuned for weekly updates on upcoming topics and speakers!
TIME Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
LOCATION L440, Technological Institute map it
CONTACT Amani Walker amani.walker@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)