Scott Bair is a key voice at Intel Labs, sharing insights into innovative research for inventing tomorrow’s technology.
Highlights
- Intel Labs engineers Drew Risinger and Tom Watson are at the forefront of scientific exploration into quantum computing.
- To help aspiring quantum engineers, Intel continues its efforts to fund quantum computing education programs for K-12 students through master’s students worldwide.
- Intel-funded quantum computing programs, such as the master’s degree program at Deggendorf Institute of Technology, are providing hands-on, practical learning opportunities.
Quantum computing engineers at Intel Labs are at the forefront of scientific exploration, discovering how to reliably harness the power of delicate silicon spin qubits while dealing with freezing cryogenic environments and complex control systems. To help future engineers get to this level of building a new computing paradigm to solve hard problems exponentially faster than conventional compute, Intel is continuing its efforts to fund quantum computing education programs for K-12 students through master’s students worldwide.
Quantum engineers Drew Risinger and Tom Watson play a key role on the Quantum Computing Lab team at Intel Labs. As a systems research engineer and scientist, Risinger develops software for quantum systems while Watson works as a quantum hardware engineer to improve the performance of quantum devices.
While degrees in quantum computing were not available when both engineers were in graduate school, Risinger’s coursework in electrical and computer engineering and Watson’s focus on physics included quantum computing studies. This led them both to opportunities to work on quantum computing research projects as doctoral students. Today, students have multiple Intel-funded quantum computing programs to choose from, including programs at Deggendorf Institute of Technology in Germany, and four other universities in the U.S. and Japan.
As a software engineer, Drew Risinger turns qubits into a functioning computer.
Students with diverse backgrounds in computer science, physics, technology, or other related subjects are encouraged to apply to quantum computing programs, according to Prof. Dr. Helena Liebelt, founder and director of the Master High Performance Computing (HPC) and Quantum Computing program at Deggendorf. The program offers a curated curriculum focused on quantum computing, allowing students with a diverse STEM background to build on their existing skill set as they progress through the coursework.
“Quantum technology combines the best of many different fields,” said Intel Labs’ Risinger. “It’s mechanical engineering, software engineering, electrical engineering, physics — all rolled into one.”
What is Quantum Computing?
Quantum computing uses properties of quantum physics, such as superposition and entanglement, to deliver the ultimate in parallel computing. The promise of quantum computing starts with the exponential power of the qubit. While a transistor can represent the two states of 0 or 1 (off or on), it can only be in one of those states at a time. A silicon spin qubit can be spin up or spin down simultaneously, meaning it can represent two states such as 0 and 1 at the same time, or a superposition of states. Adding more qubits of information increases the number of simultaneous states exponentially for computing power. Then by correlating the states of multiple qubits together through entanglement, quantum computers process information in new ways.
While qubits have nearly infinite states for complex calculations, they are fragile and can lose information with the smallest amount of vibration and temperature variation. To eliminate noise, most qubits must operate at very low temperatures in a dilution refrigerator that is colder than deep space.
In the future, quantum computing promises to enable breakthroughs in financial and climate modeling, drug discovery and medical research, chemical and biological engineering, materials design, cryptography, and complex manufacturing.
Working at the Intel Labs Quantum Computing Lab
Achieving quantum practicality requires a full quantum solution with all the necessary hardware components and a complete software stack. Both Risinger and Watson have played an important part in developing Intel quantum software and hardware for this full stack scalable system approach. Intel’s Tunnel Falls scalable research chip features the largest quantum silicon spin qubit device to date in the industry with 12 qubits that can be isolated and used in operations simultaneously. The research chip is operated by Horse Ridge II, Intel’s second-generation cryogenic quantum control chip. This brings key control functions for operation into the refrigerator — as close as possible to the qubits. Using the Intel® Quantum Software Development Kit (SDK), developers can program new quantum algorithms for executing qubits in simulation and on real quantum hardware in the future.
Risinger’s work focuses on embedded systems software design, which can be challenging when writing software for quantum hardware devices that operate at the nanosecond level. As a software engineer, Risinger is responsible for turning qubits into a functioning computer.
“The software team’s job is to improve the quantum computing system by helping it to operate more autonomously as an entire integrated system, and not just a collection of qubits,” said Risinger.
Quantum engineer Tom Watson works on optimizing quantum hardware at Intel Labs.
In contrast, Watson’s main job is developing and optimizing quantum hardware. Some days he might be in the lab with a multimeter, troubleshooting his measurement setup if he sees unusual device behavior. On other days, he might be developing new measurement techniques to characterize devices and provide feedback to the fabrication team.
Watson’s team conducts experiments using larger qubit counts, which require complex printed circuit boards (PCBs), electronics, and wiring to connect to the quantum device. When trapping a single electron in a quantum device to form a qubit, even the smallest defect can influence the properties of the qubit and its ability to perform. It can be challenging to get each qubit in a larger device to operate in the same way and it requires pushing the limits of the material quality.
“I’m very optimistic for the future,” said Watson. “We’re making wafers with thousands of high-quality devices that are similar and reproducible. We’re on the path to making larger devices and qubits that operate reliably.”
To make the future of quantum computing a reality, Risinger and Watson agree that collaboration skills are a must when working on quantum teams. These interdisciplinary teams often have physicists, computer scientists, and engineers working together on complex problems that span across software and hardware. Communication skills are necessary for brainstorming and problem solving.
Education for Preparing for a Quantum Computing Career
To prepare for a future career as a quantum engineer, students can pursue a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in quantum computing. Degrees in physics, computer science, electrical engineering, and materials science also lay the groundwork for quantum computing careers. To help prepare students prior to college, Intel is a sponsor of the National Q-12 Education Partnership, which provides K-12 educators access to quantum learning tools.
In 2022, Intel provided grants to five universities to develop quantum course curricula to share with additional universities and proliferate its use across academia. In addition to Deggendorf Institute of Technology, The Ohio State University, University of Pennsylvania, and Keio University in Japan have established quantum centers to encourage students to explore programming applications for quantum computing, while Pennsylvania State University has developed coursework using the Intel Quantum SDK.
At The Ohio State University, the curriculum helps science and engineering students become familiar with quantum programming applications and technologies. The program has grown to include exposure to practicing scientists and engineers through a summer short course and will continue to expand to create a community of developers exploring quantum computing applications.
To help build their understanding of quantum systems, the university students use the Intel Quantum SDK, which is a full quantum computer in simulation available on the Intel® Developer Cloud or qBraid. Hosted by Deggendorf Institute of Technology, the annual Intel-sponsored Quantum SDK Challenge is open to researchers, scientists, and professionals of all backgrounds to solve real-world problems using the SDK.
Deggendorf Institute of Technology recently admitted 42 students to its HPC and quantum computing master’s program, which prioritizes hands-on, practical learning opportunities.
"Students are not only equipped with a deep understanding of the concepts, but they are also encouraged to apply their newfound knowledge in real-world scenarios, fostering innovation in quantum computing research and education," said Deggendorf's Liebelt.
Doctoral researcher Shraddha Mahesh Thanki has received multiple honors for her work at Deggendorf. She and co-author Tejas Shinde won the Intel Quantum SDK Challenge with their work on Preliminary Lattice Boltzmann Method Simulation Using Intel Quantum SDK, which has been accepted for publication at ISC High Performance 2024. Thanki also was awarded the Women in High Performance Computing (WHPC) fellowship. In addition, the institute’s paper Advancing Image Classification Using Intel SDK: Integrating NAQSS Encoding with Hybrid Quantum-Classical PQC Models was accepted at the International Workshop on Advanced Computing and Analysis Techniques in Physics Research (ACAT 2024).
“Aspiring quantum engineers need to be T-shaped,” said Intel Labs’ Risinger. “Gain a broad understanding across a wide number of different fields, but also become an expert in one or two specific areas. With quantum computing, you're pushing the boundaries of every kind of discipline to get there.”
Scott Bair is a Senior Technical Creative Director for Intel Labs, chartered with growing awareness for Intel’s leading-edge research activities, like AI, Neuromorphic Computing and Quantum Computing. Scott is responsible for driving marketing strategy, messaging, and asset creation for Intel Labs and its joint-research activities. In addition to his work at Intel, he has a passion for audio technology and is an active father of 5 children.
Scott has over 23 years of experience in the computing industry bringing new products and technology to market. During his 15 years at Intel, he has worked in a variety of roles from R&D, architecture, strategic planning, product marketing, and technology evangelism. Scott has an undergraduate degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration from Brigham Young University.