How was the process to figure out your method?

I’m an experimentalist, but we had to go pretty heavily into theory and modeling for this paper. Usually, you think a theory is out there in the literature, even if it’s a few decades old, and that if there isn’t a supporting theory, you’ve done something wrong in your experiments. But there was no theory for our specific experimental case! I had to learn about microwave engineering, and we had to do all the modeling and simulations ourselves. That’s a unique challenge!

What brought you to quantum, and to Columbia originally?

I did my undergraduate degree at Fudan University in Shanghai. I was leaning towards more traditional solid-state physics, but it became really exciting to see quantum computing concepts emerge. I started seeing more and more papers pop up, and I wanted to help make the impossible possible: to go from pure laboratory demonstrations to industry-level, practical techniques. I’m a superfan of science fiction, and we’re seeing the transition from the classical to the quantum world in everyday life. I want to be part of it. 

I was aware of Jim’s SuperVan collaboration with Kin Chung Fong to explore novel qubits, and I also love New York City. I love to bike around the five boroughs and feel the architecture, the people, and the cultures change. It can feel like you are in different cities. I’ve loved being exposed to the complexity of New York, which gives me a nice break from the lab.

What does the quantum future hold?

The challenge in the quantum industry is no longer a science challenge: it’s becoming an engineering challenge. That will take a lot of people from different backgrounds to overcome. We live in a classical world, so quantum mechanics can feel intimidating, but don’t be afraid. Now is the time to jump in! 

Xuanjing Chu is mentored by James Hone, Wang Fong-Jen Professor of Mechanical Engineering and a Columbia Quantum Initiative faculty member.