Research, Science & environment, Technology & engineering

New lab-campus partnership to harness power of ‘spooky action at a distance’

The new alliance will advance the design, fabrication, and testing of quantum devices and technologies

Scientists in white jumpsuits work in a clean room
Berkeley Lab’s Molecular Foundry Nanofabrication clean room. (Credit: Berkeley Lab)

A new alliance between Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the UC Berkeley will seek to harness the power of quantum coherence, known popularly as “spooky action at a distance,” to develop a variety of exciting new technologies, from quantum computers to ultra-secure ways to transmit information.

Quantum coherence refers to a mystifying phenomenon in which two particles can become so “entangled” that changing one will trigger a change in the other — even if the particles are miles or even light-years apart.

The goals of the partnership, which has been dubbed Berkeley Quantum, will be to advance the design, fabrication and testing of quantum devices and technologies, and educate the next generation of scientists in the field.

“Berkeley Quantum will leverage the core capabilities and strengths of Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley, and create a focal point for quantum information science and engineering in Berkeley and the broader San Francisco Bay Area tech ecosystem — for industry, academia and national lab researchers,” says Berkeley Lab Deputy Director for Research Horst Simon.

Read more at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab news center