Overview of Quantum Technology Research
Seoul National University (SNU) is a distinguished participant in the dynamic field of quantum information science and technology (QIST), with research initiatives that span the faculties of physics, electrical engineering, computer science, materials science, chemistry, and mathematics. The university’s commitment to QIST is demonstrated through a comprehensive portfolio of research that spans various approaches to quantum computing and quantum devices.
Within this broad spectrum, SNU’s research endeavors include, but are not limited to, semiconductor quantum circuits, neutral atoms, ion trap systems, superconducting qubits, and photonic quantum computing. This varied focus ensures comprehensive coverage of the quantum computing field, advancing toward the goal of scalable and robust quantum information processing.
The contributions of SNU’s chemistry and mathematics departments underscore the interdisciplinary synergy at the university, enhancing both the application and the theoretical underpinnings of quantum technologies. SNU’s exploration into quantum materials also transcends the artificial, delving into the quantum mechanics of natural materials and structures.
SNU’s collaborative spirit not only fosters academic innovation within South Korea but also reinforces its status as a pivotal contributor to the international quantum research community. The university’s broad involvement in QIST, marked by significant scholarly contributions and industry partnerships, affirms its position as a leader in shaping the future of quantum technology.
Professors and Laboratories
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering / professor Seungyong Hahn
Research on superconducting quantum bits, superconducting microwave devices, superconducting magnets
< Applied Superconductivity Laboratory >
Homepage ≫ http://asl.snu.ac.kr
Overall research theme : We are interested in the design, optimization, and construction of superconducting microwave devices, including superconducting qubits, planar/3D resonators, filters, and amplifiers. We are also interested in the development of analysis methods for superconducting quantum circuits.
Department of Physics / professor Joonho Jang
Research on superconducting nanodevices and topological quasiparticles in condensed matter systems
<Laboratory for quantum condensed matter systems>
Homepage ≫ https://sites.google.com/view/jjlab-snuphysics
Overall research theme: We study topological quantum phenomena in superconducting nano-devices. Our approaches include low-temperature time-resolved microwave measurements and quantum transport measurements and the fabrication of superconducting 2D materials heterostructures. With the combination of mK temperature, high magnetic fields and ultrasensitive cryogenic signal amplifications, we pursue to control quantum many-body coherent phenomena realized on the macroscopic scale. For application, we are mainly interested in realizing superconducting field-effect transistors and manipulating topologically protected quasiparticles in unconventional superconductors.
Department of Physics and Astronomy / Professor Hyunseok Jeong
Research on quantum information and quantum optics
< Quantum Information Science Group >
Homepage ≫ http://cmqc.snu.ac.kr/members/snu/
Overall research theme : Our research encompasses quantum foundations, quantum information theory, and implementations of quantum information technologies including quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum error correction and mitigation, quantum communication, and quantum metrology.
Department of Physics / professor Dohun Kim
Research on experimental implementation of quantum circuits based-on semiconductor nanostructures including silicon, germanium, and GaAs quantum dots. Semiconductor-superconductor hybrid devices for long-range coupling. Open quantum system dynamics in integrated quantum devices
< Laboratory for integrated quantum systems >
Homepage ≫ http://iqslab.net
Overall research theme :
Our lab at SNU mainly focuses on the development of quantum coherent electronic/photonic devices using engineered nanostructures. We actively search for quantum systems that show not only excellent coherent properties but also possible scalability, that is, potential for large scale integration. The main theme is to manipulate quantum states of well defined qubits and entanglement that are considered as key ingredients for realizing quantum information technology. Currently, several research projects are ongoing, including fast electric control of semiconductor quantum dot spin qubits and coherent control of spin registers in naturally trapped atoms in solids.
Department of Physics and astronomy / professor Kee Hoon Kim
Research on the emergent quantum materials and their synthesis. Measurements of electric, magnetic, and thermodynamic properties of those emergent quantum materials under extreme physical conditions, i.e., high B, high P, and low T environments.
< Center for Novel States of Complex Materials Research >
Homepage ≫ http://censcmr.snu.ac.kr
Overall research theme: We are interested in novel states of quantum materials and their interplays. Our research topics include searching for and synthesizing new quantum materials that can be used for future quantum applications. We grow single crystals and thin films of new quantum materials, measuring physical properties under various extreme conditions such as ultra-low temperature(<50 mK), high pressures(~100 GPa), and high magnetic fields (~70 T).
Recently, we have been focusing on physics and materials that can expand our knowledge of quantum physics and quantum computing, including superconductivity, quantum spin liquid, and topological materials.
Department of Computer Science & Engineering / professor Taehyun Kim
Research on quantum hardware, quantum computing, quantum cryptography, algorithms and information theory.
< Quantum Information and Quantum Computing Laboratory >
Homepage ≫ https://quiqcl.snu.ac.kr/
Overall research theme : Our research is mainly focused on hardware development of quantum computers and quantum repeaters based on ion trap systems that have relatively long coherence time and allow quantum operation with very high fidelity. We have already developed several working ion trap systems including chip traps using micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) technology. We are also interested in developing optimal quantum error correction schemes for trapped-ion quantum computers and quantum algorithms that can be applied to practical problems.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering / professor Gwan-Hyoung Lee
Research on 2D materials-based advanced electronic devices
< Nano Convergence Materials Laboratory >
Homepage ≫ https://gwan_group.snu.ac.kr
Overall research theme : Our research focuses on the fundamental properties of nano-scale materials and technological applications of converged nanomaterials. The main studies include investigation of fundamental properties of low-dimensional materials, such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, and 2D oxides, and their large-area growth for practical applications. By combining these materials, new material systems of van der Waals heterostructures are artificially fabricated and studied for advanced electronics and energy applications.
Department of Physics / professor Jieun Lee
Research on 2D quantum materials, single-photon sources, spin-valley dependent phenomena, 2D nanophotonics
< 2D Quantum Materials and Devices Laboratory >
Homepage ≫ https://sites.google.com/site/jieunleegroup/home
Overall research theme : Our research focuses on investigating novel phenomena in atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals crystals and their heterostructures. Using the state-of-the-art semiconductor nanofabrication and optical measurement techniques, we explore quantum mechanical properties of 2D materials and their possible applications. Current interests include 2D materials based single-photon sources, spin and valley dependent physics, and 2D nanophotonics for integrated quantum devices.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering / professor Jungwoo Lee
Research on computer vision, quantum reinforcement learning, quantum clustering, quantum information theory, reinforcement learning, multi-label classification
<Communications and Machine Learning Lab >
Homepage ≫ cml.snu.ac.kr
Overall research theme : Quantum computing leverages quantum mechanical phenomena in various ways, including variational quantum circuits and adiabatic quantum computing. We aim to harness these concepts to innovate artificial intelligence such as clustering, reinforcement learning and computer vision.
Department of Chemistry / Assistant Professor Seunghoon Lee
Research on electronic structure theory
< Quantum Chemistry Laboratory >
Homepage ≫ https://sites.google.com/view/snu-qchem-lab
Overall research theme : We are interested in simulating the electronic structures of the FeMo-co and FeV-co metal clusters, which are known to be among the most strongly correlated molecular systems. We aim to understand the origin of the catalytic-activity differences between these two clusters for CO and CO2 reduction. Our group plans to optimize quantum chemistry electronic structure theories and the quantum circuits for simulating these metal clusters using NISQ-era quantum devices.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering / professor Tae-Woo Lee
Research on colloidal metal halide perovskite quantum dots for next-generation solution-processed light- and electric-driven coherent quantum emitters.
이태우 교수님 < Printed, Flexible Nano- Electronics & Energy Laboratory >
Homepage ≫ http://www.pnel.snu.ac.kr/
Overall research theme : We are interested in emerging metal halide perovskite quantum dots for next-generation high-color-purity and high-efficiency light emitters, including light- and electric-driven quantum sources, light-emitting-diodes (LEDs) micro-LEDs and lasers. Recently, we are focusing on engineering ligand shells and epaxial shells to stabilize lattice and emission of ensemble/individual perovskite quantum dots. Our goal is to promote colloidal perovskite quantum dots to become low-cost, mass-produced quantum light sources for quantum computing and communications.
Department of Physics/ Professor Je-Geun Park
Magnetic quantum materials, van der Waals (vdW) magnets, two-dimensional magnetism, novel devices using vdW magnets, thermal Hall effect, and entanglement in magnetic quantum materials.
<Center for Quantum Materials>
Homepage >> http://magnetism.snu.ac.kr
Overall research theme:
We are generally interested in all areas of materials science, particularly magnetic materials. Our research of magnetic quantum materials addresses several key questions of our time, such as quantum spin liquid states, spin-orbital entangled states, thermal Hall effect, Kitaev physics, strong magnon-phonon coupling, and magnetic exciton. We have pioneered the field of van der Waals magnets through a series of discoveries since 2016 and have since focused on the fundamental properties and novel applications using these new two-dimensional magnets. Our group covered a wide area of materials research from new materials discovery to characterization, using bulk properties and neutron/x-ray, and to eventually develop novel devices.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering / professor Namkyoo Park
Research on photonic AI, quantum computing, metamaterials, nanophotonics, and biomimetic machine learning
< Photonic Systems Laboratory >
Homepage ≫ http://stargate.snu.ac.kr/
Overall research theme : Our group focuses on realizing photonic systems for AI and quantum computing hardware. To implement ultrafast, power-efficient, and integrated photonic hardware for next-generation computing technologies—AI and quantum—we harness the convergence of network science, biomimetics, and quantum-optical analogy in nanophotonic, metamaterial, and disordered platforms. Research fields also include quantum circuit optimization, time-varying photonic systems, metamaterial-based MRI optimization, and network modeling of the Caenorhabditis elegans functionalities.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering / professor Sunkyu Yu
Research on photonic AI, disordered photonics, non-Hermitian photonics, programmable photonic circuits, and photonic quantum computing
< Intelligent Wave Systems Laboratory >
Homepage ≫ https://waves.snu.ac.kr/
Overall research theme : Our group aims to introduce multidisciplinary viewpoints on wave mechanics and its applications to intelligent systems.
Wave mechanics cover a variety of fields in classical and quantum physics. Despite the different specific properties of each field, there exists mathematical/physical similarity in various wave mechanics: photonics, quantum mechanics, acoustics, elastic waves, and RF circuits. This underlying similarity inspires the multidisciplinary connection between different wave mechanics, as demonstrated in the field of quantum-optical analogy, parity-time symmetry, and topological wave properties. This viewpoint can be generalized to network theory, biomimetics, and machine learning. Based on this perspective, we try to (i) devise new analytical methods, (ii) reveal novel phenomena, and (iii) achieve superior device performance for wave mechanics. The research goal of our laboratory is the realization of “intelligent wave systems,” focusing on light-based artificial intelligence and quantum computing.