Marissa Giustina | |
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Alma mater | Thayer School of Engineering University of Vienna |
Scientific career | |
Institutions | Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab |
Thesis | Characterizing photoresponse in black silicon at excitation below the silicon bandgap (2010) |
Marissa Giustina is an American physicist who is a senior research scientist at the Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab. Her research considers the development of quantum computing and experimental tests of quantum theory.
Giustina became interested in computing as a child.[1] She was an undergraduate student in mathematics at the Mary Baldwin University, where she had one woman physics teacher, who inspired her to pursue a career in engineering.[1] She moved to the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College for undergraduate and graduate studies, where she was mentored by Lorenza Viola.[1] Her research considered the photoresponse of black silicon below the silicon bandgap.[2] She moved to the University of Vienna in 2010, where she started doctoral research in the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information.[3] As part of her research, she developed an experiment to demonstrate quantum entanglement.[4] The equipment was based at the Hofburg Palance, and generated entangled pairs of photons which were coupled into glass fibres that were carried to measurement stations. The measurement stations included a random number generator to choose which orientation to measure the photon polarization in, and superconducting detectors to determine whether the photons had arrived. Her research provided validation for quantum entanglement.[4] The extraordinary detection sensitivity and spatial separation between the pair of detectors were enough to make the result a definitive proof of entanglement.[4] Her research on loophole-free texting of Bell experiments was recognized with the Paul Ehrenfest Best Paper Award.[5][6]
Giustina joined the Google Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab in 2016.[7] She develops quantum computers,[8][9][10] which store information in a compressed form using quantum states. Her quantum computers are based on nonlinear superconducting elements, which comprise a Josephson junction integrated as a non-linear element.[1] This type of circuit operates at frequencies close to 5 GHz and produces two discrete states (0 and 1) as well as superpositions of states.[1] She is working to improve the functionality of quantum processors and attempting overcome decoherence.[1]
Giustina serves on the advisory board of the United States Department of Energy National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee.[11] In 2020, she was selected as one of Fortune's 40 Under 40,[12] and in 2021 she was listed in the Future Tech Awards Future 50.[13]
In 2021, Giustina took part in Homeward Bound, an Australian leadership program.[14]