Rami Barends

The physicist is building quantum computers with superconducting qubits. He wants to make quantum computers suitable for everyday use.

The right mix

Solving real-world problems with quantum computers is Prof. Rami Barends’ goal – and one of the reasons he moved from Google to Forschungszentrum Jülich in 2021. He believes that Jülich, with its closely linked ecosystem of researchers from various fields, offers just the right mix for this.

Barends is a master of two skill sets: on the one hand, he is an expert in the complex world of theoretical physics, and on the other, he has plenty of experience in building the necessary hardware. At Jülich, he and his working group are developing quantum computers with as many superconducting qubits as possible.

He also heads Jülich’s new low-temperature laboratory. The laboratory is to operate a European quantum computer in order to make applications for quantum computers a reality as quickly as possible.

At the heart of progress

At Google, Barends was involved in developing the hardware for Sycamore – the first quantum computer proven to be superior to a conventional supercomputer. Barends’ responsibilities at Google also included materials analysis as well as electronics and software development.

Before that, he conducted research on superconducting qubits in John Martinis’ group at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where a number of innovations that pave the way to a functioning quantum computer have been developed.

Davor forschte er in der Arbeitsgruppe von John Martinis an der University of California in Santa Barbara an supraleitenden Qubits. Dort wurde eine Reihe von Innovationen entwickelt, die den Weg zu einem funktionierenden Quantencomputer ebnen.

• Cluster of Excellence “Material and Light for Quantum Computing” (ML4Q)
  New technologies for quantum communication and quantum computing

• QSolid
  Construction of quantum demonstrators with superconducting qubits that have a low error rate

Highlights & News

Interview

Deep in the organ pipes

When Rami Barends was still working at Google, he was involved in many milestones on the way to a quantum computer. Now he has moved to Forschungszentrum Jülich and wants to help make these new computers usable.

Press release

QSolid – Paving the Way for the First German Quantum Computer

Building a complete quantum computer based on cutting-edge German technology is the goal of the QSolid collaborative project with a total budget of € 76.3 million for the next five years, which has just started and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Podcast with Rami Barends

In the podcast of the Cluster of Excellence "Matter and Light for Quantum Information" (ML4Q), Rami Barends talks about his research on superconducting circuits, how he got into quantum computing, and how his path led to Jülich via Google.

Got to ML4Q&A-Podcast

Contact

Prof. dr. ir. Rami Barends

• Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI)
• Functional Quantum Systems (PGI-13)

Building Aachen-Campus-Boulevard /
Room 400

+49 241/475731-20

E-Mail