LIN ZHOU EXPLORES THE ATOMIC REALM AT THE SENSITIVE INSTRUMENT FACILITY

The Sensitive Instrument Facility (SIF), a part of Ames National Laboratory, is a uniquely constructed space that enables atomic-level research.

A range of different microscopes are housed in the SIF, where Lin Zhou, associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, conducts her research. She focuses on the atomic structure and phase transition dynamics of certain materials for quantum information technology.

“By combining different microscope capabilities, ranging from optical to scanning electron microscopes and (scanning) transmission electron microscopes, we can explore the composition and the structure of materials from millimeters down to the atomic scale,” Zhou said. “We utilize the principles of quantum mechanics in computing to achieve faster computing speeds. However, to perform quantum computing, we need to fabricate quantum bits that can mimic the behavior of atoms.”

One approach involves using superconductive materials and stacking them together to form these “man-made atoms,” which can then be transformed into circuits for quantum computing. However, manufacturing these quantum bits can produce structural imperfections that limit a device’s performance.

Zhou’s main goal right now is to analyze and understand the impact of those imperfections with the electron microscopes so that the device’s quality can improve.