George Mason physicist receives NSF CAREER award for topological quantum computing research

Colleen Rich — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 18:41:33 +0000

George Mason physicist receives NSF CAREER award for topological quantum computing research Colleen Rich Tue, 08/20/2024 - 14:41

Fereshte Ghahari Kermani, assistant professor in physics and astronomy in ��AV’s College of Science, received the prestigious Early Career Development (CAREER) Program grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to continue her research on the complex quantum phases in graphene materials.

Fereshte Ghahari Kermani. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

In 2023, Ghahari was the first faculty member at George Mason to receive the competitive U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Early Career Award to advance quantum technologies, and now she is the first to receive CAREER awards from both the DOE and NSF.

Ghahari’s study “Topological order and edge states in fractional quantum Hall systems” will focus on the complex quantum phases in graphene materials, which could be utilized in the development of future quantum technologies. For this project, Ghahari will investigate a specific topological phase of matter known as the fractional quantum Hall effect, which she first discovered in graphene in 2009. This phenomenon that appears in two-dimensional electron systems under high magnetic fields and ultra-low temperatures can support new particles that serve as the building blocks for topological quantum computers.

“By looking at how the charges flow and the heat they carry in response to a temperature gradient, we can measure entropy, or the degree of randomness, which can reveal the topological properties of these new particles and if they can be used in future topological quantum computers,” she explained.

Topological quantum computers allow for complex calculations out of reach of standard computing schemes. Quantum bits (qubits), which are used in conventional quantum computing, are more susceptible to errors due to environmental noise and other factors. Topological qubits, however, are prone to these types of errors.

“Studying these specific phases may also provide valuable insights into one of the long-standing problems in cosmology known as the “blackhole paradox” that addresses the loss of information in blackholes,” Ghahari said.

“Ghahari’s research and programmatic efforts continue to receive well-deserved attention,” said Department of Physics and Astronomy Chair Ernest Barreto. “Our quantum computing and materials academic offerings and research support continue to grow, thanks to such innovative research, outreach, and partnerships,” Barreto said.

Students working on Ghahari’s research team will create tiny graphene heterostructures on George Mason’s Fairfax Campus, and subsequently use nanofabrication equipment at a nearby project collaborator, the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), to integrate the quantum nanodevices. Finally, they will use a low temperature cryostat located at Ghahari’s lab at George Mason to measure these devices at extremely low temperatures and high magnetic fields.

As part of this award, Ghahari will design an education plan to educate George Mason community on quantum nanoscience research by leveraging her unique expertise and established collaborations, which can enhance and expand the existing infrastructure. This plan also includes promoting outreach and educational opportunities for students and underrepresented groups by offering seminars and additional quantum courses. She seeks to introduce quantum concepts to high school students to foster awareness and cultivate interest at an earlier age. According to Ghahari, mentorship plays an essential role in a student’s academic experience.

“Mentoring is crucial,” Ghahari said. “As a student, I often sought inspiration. Now, I strive to share my passion and interest in the subject as I work with students.”

With the NSF support, Ghahari’s study will receive $564,695 over the course of five years.

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Mason physicist receives university’s first DOE Early Career Award

Colleen Rich — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 14:38:46 +0000

Mason physicist receives university’s first DOE Early Career Award Colleen Rich Wed, 10/25/2023 - 10:38

��AV researcher Fereshte Ghahari Kermani recently received the highly competitive U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Early Career Award. She is the first Mason faculty member to receive this honor, one that highlights the significance of her contributions to the field of condensed matter physics.

This recognition supports scientists across the county whose work pushes the boundaries of scientific advancement and helps solidify the United States as a driver of science and innovation around the world.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Ghahari’s study “Probing Correlated Phenomena in Graphene Constrictions” seeks to discover new pathways that will advance the development of novel quantum computing devices. To propel quantum technologies forward, Ghahari, who is an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, will look specifically at quantum electronic properties of charge carriers in graphene—a single atom thick layer of graphite—nanostructures.

Her research will address fundamental physics questions including whether a novel type of superconducting qubit can be designed by twisting graphene layers, as well as the properties of emergent particles of specific topological phases of matter. A qubit refers to a basic unit of quantum computing, such as the spin of an electron.

In search for these questions, Ghahari and her team will design and realize artificial potential landscapes in tiny graphene devices. Then they measure these devices at ultra-low temperatures and strong magnetic fields to probe correlated phases in their tunable dimensionalities.

“This research helps to develop new types of qubits by understanding specific quantum electron properties of particles when traveling through these constrictions,” Ghahari said.

Ghahari’s study was selected by the DOE’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences and will receive $875K over the course of five years. “It is nice to be recognized. This funding will support my career goals to make meaningful advances leading to the scientific insights required for the advancement of technologies based on quantum physics, “Ghahari said.

Ghahari’s past research has been in pursuit of understanding novel correlated and topological phenomena in graphene. She has made pioneering contributions to the field early in her career from the discovery of fractional quantum Hall effect and hydrodynamic thermal transport to Berry phase switch and quantum Hall wedding cakes in graphene nano devices.

Interested in Ghahari’s research? View another study currently in progress and her work recently published in Science.

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George Mason physicist receives NSF CAREER award for topological quantum computing research

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