What do secure communication, semiconductor manufacturing and AI chips have in common? They all benefit from Hugh Churchill’s work in materials science and quantum technologies, which has attracted more than $14 million in external funding for his lab and – with the help of colleagues – about $28 million to the University of Arkansas overall.

Churchill, a professor of physics, focuses on the small things in life – particularly nanoscale materials and devices controlled by quantum mechanics. Unlike classical physics, where objects and forces behave in accordance with everyday human experience, quantum mechanics defines unusual behaviors observed in atoms and sub-atomic particles. Electronic devices that are engineered to be sufficiently small, cold and fast can also be governed by the rules of quantum mechanics, and quantum technologies seek to harness these unusual properties for societal benefit, which is where Churchill and fellow U of A faculty members come in.

While nanoscopic in size, these particles can have an immense effect on technology, because everything from smart phones to health care imaging devices incorporate quantum mechanics. Even if you don’t completely understand the physics behind it, you can probably bet that they’ve been integrated into your daily life.

MAN ON A MISSION

Churchill grew up in Conway, Arkansas, and graduated from Oberlin College with a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts in physics and mathematics. He went on to earn a doctorate in physics from Harvard University before being named a Pappalardo Fellow in Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Along the way, he was mentored by Greg Salamo, Distinguished Professor of physics at the University of Arkansas, who introduced him to materials science, an interdisciplinary field that, at the U of A, has a major focus on discovering and researching new semiconductor materials.

Drawn to work with semiconductor devices that incorporated quantum behavior, Churchill joined the U of A faculty in 2015. Since then, he has made a name for himself – both at the university and in national circles – for his work involving quantum physics.

“My professional mission was to come back to my home state to improve the scientific research and education in Arkansas,” he said, noting that he frequently visits Arkansas schools to talk to students and explain what he does.

RESEARCH FRONTIERS

In the field of quantum computing, researchers are constantly looking for better components to work with and testing their durability in harsh environments. Two projects Churchill is affiliated with will address both.

The Center for Manipulation of Atomic Ordering for Manufacturing Semiconductors, the first Energy Frontier Research Center in Arkansas led by professor Shui-Qing “Fisher” Yu, will be dedicated to investigating the formation of atomic orders in semiconductor alloys and measuring their effectiveness at very low temperatures.

Churchill says one big application of their research is the potential for low-cost manufacturing of semiconductors with capabilities that go beyond what silicon, the most commonly used semiconductor, can do. Since semiconductors are the “brains” of electronics, this will effectively expand the brain power of many devices and do so in a less expensive way – a major accomplishment technologically.

“The big challenge for testing quantum devices is how long it takes to make the devices,” Churchill explained. “Then, when you have the devices available for testing, sometimes what you’re testing doesn’t work, and you have to go back and make changes.”

To address this issue, the MonArk NSF Quantum Foundry was created, thanks to a $20 million award from the National Science Foundation. The foundry is a collaboration between the U of A and Montana State University and supports the study of 2-D materials by removing the bottlenecks commonly found in the creation of quantum devices that are being tested.

The foundry automates this process wherever possible, utilizing an assembly line of robots and artificial intelligence to produce the 2-D materials. Churchill, who is one of two associate directors of the foundry, says the automation accelerates the pace of some steps by almost 100 times and satisfies the needs of researchers who are partnering with the university on this research. The foundry also serves the greater community, which can order items to be produced in the lab. Training and resources are available for students, and professional development is offered for technical workers to help prepare a diverse, next-generation STEM workforce trained in quantum technologies. MonArk is also beginning to have a local economic impact, with spin-out Atomic Sandwiches Quantum Foundry, which has three full-time employees, commercializing these ideas at a facility in Bentonville.

“A big part of our effort is that we hope to become a national resource that researchers from all over can turn to to have materials and devices made for them,” he said. “This will help accelerate progress in our entire research community and help everybody go faster.”

Churchill’s research with ferroelectric 2-D materials will also benefit the U.S. Air Force and the next generation of energy-efficient chips. Thanks to funding from the Air Force, Churchill and his colleagues will implement a five-phase plan focused on electromagnetic sensors. These sensors would potentially be used in radar and surveillance equipment – basically anything involving where things are and who’s communicating. The same ferroelectric 2-D materials that are expected to make better sensors can also be used to make energy-efficient AI chips. Through the Arkansas Materials Institute, his work will contribute to the creation of energy-efficient chips for AI data centers, reducing the amount of heat produced and improving the functionality of chips (said to work more like a human brain than a silicon processor).

SMALL STATE, BIG DREAMS

Whether he’s working with fellow Arkansans, representing the university on a national level or mentoring students from around the world, Churchill has earned the admiration of students and academics alike.

Alton Holscher, from Bentonville, is an undergraduate in Churchill’s lab and completed a self-study course, Modern Physics, with him while studying abroad. In the lab, Churchill gave him the autonomy to decide where his interests lined up with the lab’s needs. His role focuses on device fabrication, particularly electron confinement via quantum dots on twisted bilayer graphene.

While Churchill gives his students the freedom, autonomy and creativity to learn in the lab, Holscher says you can still see his philosophies come through in his students. “A lot of his mentorship comes through in the lab environment and the space that he’s fostered,” he explains.

Similarly, Brycelynn Bailey is a graduate student who also works in Churchill’s lab. She’s from Smackover, Arkansas, and finds it thrilling that she can pursue this type of work in her home state. She hopes to work in a national laboratory after graduation, and she is drawn to research and development of new materials and electronics.

Her current job in Churchill’s lab is to run the dilution refrigerator, which allows the researchers to test systems at temperatures close to absolute zero. Bailey measures the currents and voltages in devices at low temperatures, adjusts the magnetic field in play and measures the differences. She praises Churchill’s ability to explain complicated concepts, ensure a welcoming, productive environment and advocate for students who are struggling.

“Dr. Churchill is probably one of the greatest humans I’ve ever met,” she says.