Maryland Physics was ranked 14th by U.S. News and World Report's 2015 Best Graduate Schools -- with four specialties in the top 10. Our rankings included:

 
The College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences' full Best Graduate School rankings are available here.

Johnpierre Paglione was appointed an Associate for the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR). CIFAR brings together a network of nearly 400 researchers to focus on important questions with the potential to improve human health and the environment, transform technology, build strong societies, understand human culture and even chart the universe.

Professor Paglione will serve as an Associate of the Quantum Materials research program.

For the full list of 2014 research appointments, visit: http://ter.ps/522

A team of physicists, including Wolfgang Losert and UMD researchers, have created an undersea digging robot that's far more efficient than commercial digging devices. Read More

Patrick O'Shea, Ray Johnson and Mary Ann Rankin sign the memorandum of understanding to establish the Quantum Engineering Center at the University of Maryland. Photo: John Consoli

Lockheed Martin and the University of Maryland are partnering to develop an integrated quantum computing platform that has the potential to enhance fields ranging from drug discovery and communications to logistics.

The parties signed a memorandum of understanding establishing the Quantum Engineering Center at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Lockheed Martin and the University of Maryland are partnering to develop an integrated quantum computing platform that has the potential to enhance fields ranging from drug discovery and communications to logistics."Classical computing can only take us so far," said Dr. Ray O. Johnson, Lockheed Martin senior vice president and chief technology officer. "In the future, critical systems will become so complex that problems will take too long or become too expensive to solve using even our most powerful supercomputers. We believe the next computational revolution will stem from applied quantum science—a discipline that connects physics, information science, and engineering."

Building on more than 60 years of collaboration, Lockheed Martin and the University of Maryland signed a formal strategic framework in 2010 to jointly pursue research and development projects and business opportunities. The Quantum Engineering Center is the most recent opportunity to push the boundaries of scientific discovery and innovation.

"By building on our world-class research expertise, the University of Maryland will transform the study of quantum mechanics into the practice of quantum engineering through this unique partnership with Lockheed Martin," said Dr. Mary Ann Rankin, senior vice president and provost of the University of Maryland, College Park. "Together, we will bring multidisciplinary methods to an area that has the potential to transform the lives of citizens around the globe."

The initial goal of the Quantum Engineering Center is to demonstrate a quantum platform that features reliable, well-characterized operation without requiring a user to have a deep understanding of the internal workings of the system—just like conventional computers work today. To achieve this will require close cooperation between scientists and engineers.

"In the case of quantum components, it's like we're back in 1947 working with the first semiconductor transistors," said Dr. Chris Monroe, Bice Zorn professor of physics at the University of Maryland. "We are talking about unusual systems— specially tuned laser and microwave fields trained with exquisite precision onto individual atoms suspended with electrical fields and immersed in a vacuum chamber a million times less dense than outer space. Each aspect is challenging in its own way, but we understand exactly how every piece works. Our focus now is integrating these systems to consistently and reliably work in harmony, much like engineering a complex aircraft, so that the device is more than just a sum of its parts."