SQMS Center marks six years of quantum research at Fermilab

The Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems (SQMS) Center is celebrating six years of development since its inception as a Department of Energy National Quantum Information Science Research Center in August 2020.

Originally conceived as an idea to leverage Fermilab’s long-standing expertise in superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities, the center has grown into a global community of hundreds of researchers. The initiative focuses on understanding the fundamental physical limits of quantum system performance to push technological boundaries.

By repurposing SRF technology—traditionally used in particle accelerators to store electromagnetic energy with minimal loss—SQMS researchers are exploring novel quantum architectures. This includes investigating higher-dimensional quantum systems, known as qudits, to extend quantum information preservation times beyond the capabilities of conventional two-level qubits.