Hadass Inbar interned with PsiQuantum, one of Quantum Foundry's industrial partners, from the Fall of 2021 to the Spring of 2022.

What research project did you work on as part of the internship with PsiQuantum?:

As part of my work at PsiQuantum as an R&D engineering intern, I am responsible for developing superconducting materials for single-photon detectors used in PsiQuantum’s quantum computer. I design experiments of superconducting materials growth and measure the electrical properties of the thin films. I survey and evaluate the correlation of growth conditions and methods with film structure, morphology, and composition. In addition, I collaborate with failure analysis and materials labs to characterize the quality of grown films, which can be done with XRD, XRR, AFM, TEM, and SEM.

 How did the internship opportunity benefit your research and career goals?: 

Taking an industry internship PsiQuantum has benefited my PhD research on multiple fronts: From a theory standpoint, my understanding of superconducting thin-film physics and fundamental problems related to superconducting device fabrication and testing has strengthened. I have gained a broader perspective on the approach quantum computing companies take to building a scalable quantum computer and the necessary contributions multiple teams need to make to solve challenging hardware goals. Specifically, I learned also about the challenges related to the growth of high-performance superconducting materials and how their functionality could affect other components in a photonic quantum computer. I have gained new experimental skills and knowledge related to data analysis, thin-film deposition, materials characterization, and device fabrication. Through close work with collaborators/vendors, my ability to manage projects has improved and would be valuable also for future interdisciplinary research collaborations.