OSU physicist awarded $539K NSF grant to advance quantum technologies

OSU physicist awarded $539K NSF grant to advance quantum technologies

Monday, November 17, 2025

Media Contact: Dr. Yingmei Liu | Professor, Department of Physics | 405-744-5816 | [email protected]

Oklahoma State University's Dr. Yingmei Liu has received a $539,000 National Science Foundation grant to develop quantum-enhanced technologies using a highly programmable quantum simulator.

Liu, an OSU Department of Physics professor, will lead the three-year project to demonstrate the powerful capabilities of OSU's programmable quantum simulator - which was designed and implemented by ten OSU physics students - and explore its applications in quantum information science (QIS) and quantum sensing.

"Quantum simulation of many-body systems is a research area with important applications, from quantum information storage to the development of novel materials," Liu said. "QIS has revolutionized society in the past decade, serving as the basis of emerging technologies such as quantum-enhanced measurements, quantum computers and secure quantum communication."

Liu explained that these technologies have laid the foundation for tremendous growth in several technological sectors. To that end, the research team's goals are of technological significance as well as fundamental interest for advancing their understanding of quantum physics.

"This NSF award will greatly improve the productivity of the only Hubbard model quantum simulator research program in Oklahoma," Liu said. "QIS has revolutionized society in the past decade, serving as the basis of emerging technologies such as quantum-enhanced measurements, quantum computers, and secure quantum communication.

"By combining modern developments in quantum physics with important application-driven sensor research in a completely unique way, the proposed atom-based quantum sensing has many advantages including high spatial sensitivity and greatly enhanced field sensitivity."

Liu explained that their experimental setup uses ultracold sodium atoms in spinor Bose-Einstein condensates to simulate complex quantum systems. Her team's project will investigate several cutting-edge phenomena, including ergodicity breaking, novel nonequilibrium spin dynamics and quantum scars in many-body systems. They will also work on generating massive entanglement, a key resource for quantum technologies.

"The immediate applications of this precise sensor include searching for mineral resources, non-invasive biomedical imaging for early diagnosis, detecting archaeological sites from spacecraft, and earthquake prediction," Liu said.

Beyond funding laboratory work, the NSF award will provide support for educational initiatives. Liu will integrate research and teaching by involving undergraduate and graduate students in hands-on quantum research projects designed to prepare them for careers in science and technology.

The key goals of OSU's quantum research programs, including Liu's own NSF-funded project, are three-fold:

"Building a sustainable and robust education pipeline that aligns with OSU's land-grant commitments and OSU's goals to strengthen STEM education in Oklahoma, preparing a high-quality workforce for the state and the nation, and advancing scientific discovery and technological innovation in quantum technologies," Liu said.

Students majoring in physics or engineering who are interested in participating in quantum research projects at OSU are invited to contact Dr. Yingmei Liu directly.