Fermilab joined national effort to increase efficiency in microelectronics

Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory are experts in making microelectronics and data processing more efficient and powerful. This collective knowledge comes from decades of developing giant detectors for high-energy physics.  

On July 17, two distinguished guests joined researchers at Fermilab to sign the Energy Efficiency Scaling for 2 Decades pledge, or EES2. These guests include Tina Kaarsberg, a program manager from the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and Sadasivan Shankar, research technical manager from DOE’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. 

“Fermilab has emerging core competencies in circuits, architectures and edge algorithms,” said Lia Merminga, Fermilab’s director. “Our lab has been designing low-power circuit solutions for advanced scientific instrumentation, detectors, accelerators and more for four decades.” 

The EES2 pledge

Since the 1940s, computational power has grown exponentially. This growth has largely been sustained according to Moore’s law, which observes the number of components per integrated circuit doubling every year. But current computing technologies are not efficient enough to meet society’s demands to produce and process more data. 

Fermilab has become the 48^th organization to sign the EES2 pledge. The EES2 pledge seeks to improve the efficiency of electronics and support American manufacturing. Led by the DOE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Office, this pledge aims to set the semiconductor industry on the path to double energy efficiency every two years. It also looks to increase the competitiveness of semiconductor manufacturers and strengthen clean energy supply chains in America.

To meet this goal, four working groups will participate in EES2 workshops and contribute a roadmap. 

“This EES2 pledge is a win for the environment without compromising science,” said Shankar. “Technological innovations are needed to enable this paradigm of energy-efficient computing since more and more energy is spent on analyzing data. Fermilab can play an invaluable role in extending the premise of intelligent sensing to applications beyond particle detectors.”

Fermilab’s emerging technologies 

During the visit, guests toured Fermilab’s facilities to see how the lab strives to improve efficiency in computing and detectors. At the start of the tour, visitors listened to talks about driving innovation.

Researchers demonstrated a few ways AI-on-chip is used to advance Fermilab’s mission. They shared how an artificial intelligence algorithm compresses data for the Compact Muon Solenoid at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. They showed how researchers test and analyze electronics using robotics. The researchers presented advanced 3D chips and investigations with industry to improve devices. They also discussed collaborating on open-source platforms to develop and test solutions in AI. 

“Designing and developing energy-efficient detectors with integrated sensing, computing and communications over the next several years will create impactful hardware for the next generation of high-energy physics experiments and beyond,” said Farah Fahim, the division director for Fermilab’s Microelectronics Division. 

Next, guests toured the new, sustainably built Integrated Engineering Research Center. Nicola Bacchetta, a senior scientist at Fermilab, explained how this space will help engineers develop and assemble particle detectors. 

Researchers from the Fermilab Quantum NETwork presented a network to share quantum information across the Chicago region. This network includes Argonne National Laboratory and Northwestern University’s campuses in Evanston, Illinois, and Chicago. 

The tour ended at Fermilab’s Silicon Detector building where the group saw firsthand how Fermilab researchers build, package, test and characterize detectors for experiments. 

“Energy efficiency is aligned with the strategy of our laboratory, and microelectronics is only part of it,” said Merminga. “We plan to develop a strategy for sustainability in our laboratory that expands over scientific infrastructure, accelerators, buildings, detectors and microelectronics. Signing this pledge is the right thing to do for our society; it is well aligned with our principles, and we bring unique capabilities to this important cause.” 

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory hosted an event today to kick off the U.S. Quantum Information Science School, one of the largest federally sponsored education programs to help build a quantum-ready workforce. 

“The Quantum Information Science School is a unique program that will extend the amazing opportunities of this emerging field to a diverse group of participants—a top priority for the Department of Energy,” said Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, DOE’s director of the Office of Science. “Programs like this strengthen and advance the U.S. science and technology enterprise by broadening participation of people from all walks of life in STEM fields and ensuring equitable access to the benefits of new and emerging technologies and scientific innovation.” 

As part of the inauguration for the first QIS program session, participants heard from notable guests, including Charles Tahan, the assistant director of quantum information science from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; U.S. Reps. Sean Casten (Ill.) and Bill Foster (Ill.); Fermilab Director Lia Merminga; SQMS and QSC Centers’ Directors Anna Grassellino and Travis Humble; and welcoming remarks from Berhe, who attended the event virtually.

The school’s organization is led by the Fermilab-hosted SQMS Center, in collaboration with the Quantum Science Center, hosted by DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and draws on experts from all five DOE Office of Science Quantum Research Centers. Each of the five is comprised of national lab, academic and industry collaborators, ensuring a nation-wide effort to advance quantum information science and technology. The school, mirroring the structure of the five centers, unites experts, beyond-the-state-of-the-art facilities and the next generation of the quantum workforce. 

“Illinois is a global leader in quantum research, advancement and commercialization, with the opening of the first U.S. Quantum Information Science School putting us one step closer to transforming the way so many of our sectors operate,” said Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. “We’re proud to be the state with the highest quantum investment and the most centers in the United States, and this program will keep us at the forefront. Our top asset has always been our people—this new, innovative opportunity will keep preparing our top-tier workforce for the jobs and challenges of the future.”

Nearly 150 students from across 70 institutions will spend 10 days at Fermilab building theoretical knowledge and practical experimental skills in the field of quantum information science. The participants represent a broad range of experience and backgrounds, including undergraduate and graduate students from across the U.S., educators, federal labs and industry professionals.

The USQIS school is structured to host morning lectures by world-leading experts in QIS, followed by afternoon sessions where participants dive deeper into the subject matter using SQMS Center laboratories and equipment. The program will cover a range of topics in QIS, including quantum device controls and measurements; quantum computing algorithms; quantum sensing; quantum device design and fabrication; cryogenics; and material science. Beyond the coursework and lab time, multiple panel discussions, poster sessions and networking opportunities will enrich the USQIS school.

“With the new USQIS school, we want to offer an education program that gives an opportunity to engage in 360-degree, interactive, hands-on learning, the likes of which is currently out of reach for many who are interested in the rapidly expanding field,” said Grassellino. “These technologically advanced and sophisticated facilities are not widely available, and we believe that the DOE centers are the right place to serve as the training ground for the future generation of quantum scientists, engineers and supporting roles.” 

Students will have access to qubits, quantum devices and platforms at the SQMS Center, developed by Fermilab, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and Rigetti Computing. The classes are taught by experts from Fermilab, Northwestern University, Ames, Los Alamos and Oak Ridge National Laboratories, Louisiana State University, Michigan State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, IBM, NIST, NASA Ames, Rigetti Computing and more. By combining the expertise of DOE national laboratories, academia and the private sector, the program aims to create and steward the ecosystem needed to foster and facilitate the advancement of QIS. The anticipated national impact is on national security, economic competitiveness and America’s continued leadership in science and technology.

The program is part of a national effort set forth by the National Quantum Initiative Act, which allocated more than $1 billion dollars for research in artificial intelligence and quantum information science. Under this act, Congress established five unique National Quantum Information Science Research Centers that are hosted by their respective DOE national laboratories. 

Each of these centers leverage the core capabilities and strengths of their host laboratories to investigate ways to advance the field of quantum information science. Researchers aim to harness quantum mechanics to perform computations that would be practically impossible for classical computers and to create ultra-sensitive detectors. 

“This week, participants will get a firsthand look at the most cutting-edge science and technology,” said Tahan. “Efforts to educate the next quantum workforce are essential in meeting the nation’s growing demands for viable quantum technologies.” 

The Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center at Fermilab is supported by the DOE Office of Science.

The Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center is one of the five U.S. Department of Energy National Quantum Information Science Research Centers. Led by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, SQMS is a collaboration of 30 partner institutions—national labs, academia and industry—working together to bring transformational advances in the field of quantum information science. The center leverages Fermilab’s expertise in building complex particle accelerators to engineer multiqubit quantum processor platforms based on state-of-the-art qubits and superconducting technologies. Working hand in hand with embedded industry partners, SQMS will build a quantum computer and new quantum sensors at Fermilab, which will open unprecedented computational opportunities. For more information, please visit sqmscenter.fnal.gov.

Fermilab is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit science.energy.gov.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science has selected two DOE Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory scientists to receive the 2023 DOE Early Career Research Award, now in its 14th year. The prestigious award is designed to bolster the nation’s scientific workforce by providing support to exceptional researchers at the outset of their careers when many scientists do their most formative work.

This year, 93 early career scientists representing 47 universities and 12 national laboratories in 27 different states across the country have been selected to receive funding as part of DOE’s Early Career Research Program. These awards are a part of the DOE’s long-standing efforts to develop the next generation of STEM leaders.

“Supporting America’s scientists and researchers early in their careers will ensure the United States remains at the forefront of scientific discovery,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “The funding announced today gives the recipients the resources to find the answers to some of the most complex questions as they establish themselves as experts in their fields.”

To be eligible for Early Career Research Program awards, a researcher must be an employee at a DOE national laboratory who received a doctorate within the past 12 years. Research topics must fall within the scope of one of the Office of Science’s eight major program areas, which includes high-energy physics. Outside scientific experts then select the awardees based on peer review.

The Fermilab recipients are:

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In 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, two instruments, each approximately the size of two refrigerators, arrived at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois. The first landed in March, the second in December.

They were amplifiers — the first prototype units of what will become the power source for Fermilab’s new linear particle accelerator. A team of scientists and engineers at India’s Raja Rammana Centre for Advanced Technology, or RRCAT, designed, developed and built both of them for the Proton Improvement Plan II, or PIP-II, project at Fermilab.

But with the pandemic restrictions on international travel, Indian scientists could not accompany their work to the United States. Instead, engineers at Fermilab had to install the amplifiers with guidance “over the phone,” said Jim Steimel, PIP-II sub-project manager for high-power radiofrequency at Fermilab. The tight cooperation between the teams ensured the successful installation, despite the challenges of remote coordination.

It’s one example of the strong collaboration between the U.S. and India in high-energy physics and accelerator research. Now, with travel restrictions loosened, a few representatives from the Indian PIP-II team have made their way to Fermilab to — finally — see their work in action.

An important partnership

India is an important scientific partner for the United States. Recently, in mid-June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and United States President Joe Biden met at the White House to deepen bilateral cooperation between the two countries on cutting-edge scientific infrastructure. As part of the agreement, India will supply components worth $140 million to the PIP-II project. This contribution was even highlighted in this White House statement (see number 10).

The Indian Department of Atomic Energy institutions have a strong partnership with Fermilab. In February 2023, DOE’s Asmeret Berhe took her maiden visit to India as the director of the Office of Science. Invited by the chairman and the secretary of DAE, Berhe participated in meetings with officials at the U.S. Embassy, as well as India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. The tour included a visit to the University of Chicago Delhi Center. She also met with institutional leaders ​who work on high-energy physics programs, with a specific emphasis on accelerator programs.

Accompanying Berhe on the visit was a cohort that included Gina Rameika, associate director for the DOE Office of High Energy Physics; Lia Merminga, Fermilab director; Josh Inaba, special assistant, Office of Science; Daniel Schwab, science and technology policy advisor, Office of International Science and Tech Cooperation and Trusted Research, Office of Science; and Hema Ramamoorthi, Fermilab director for international engagements.

PIP-II is the first particle accelerator to be built in the U.S. with significant contributions from international partners. In addition to India, the PIP-II project will receive in-kind contributions from institutions in France, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom. India’s deliverables include superconducting acceleration structures, electromagnets and radio-frequency power sources that will be fabricated in India and then transported to the U.S. for installation.

Pioneering new technology with PIP-II

PIP-II’s new accelerator will power the world’s most intense beam of neutrinos. It will provide the beam for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, hosted by Fermilab. Over the course of its 215-meter length, the accelerator will drive particles to nearly 85% the speed of light through five different types of accelerating cryomodules.

The linear accelerator uses superconducting radio-frequency technologies to power the particle beam. SRF technologies enable much more efficient particle acceleration than conventional technologies; however, they also require ultracold temperatures to operate. So, the cryomodules house strings of cavities — ranging from three to eight — in liquid helium baths and layers of insulation that isolate the cavities from the “warm” room temperature. PIP-II has 116 cavities distributed among 23 cryomodules.

“I think it is important that they are able to visit the laboratory and see their product in action.” –  Jim Steimel, PIP-II sub-project manager for high-power radiofrequency at Fermilab

PIP-II uses five different types of SRF cavities, with each type designed to efficiently accelerate particles of a particular velocity. “Every cavity requires a radiofrequency source to accelerate the beam,” said Steimel. The power to maintain the beam varies based on the cavity.

PIP-II uses three different radio frequencies to power the beam. As the beam gets narrower farther down the accelerator, they use shorter-wavelength frequencies to compress the beam further.

“We need to generate the RF necessary to keep the field in those cavities,” said Steimel.

So the accelerator uses amplifiers that magnify the radiofrequency signal and send it into the cavities. Different amplifiers operate at 7 kilowatts for the first stage of acceleration, 20 kilowatts for the second, 40 kilowatts for the third and up to 70 kilowatts for the final stage. Engineers designed these amplifiers based on solid-state RF amplifier technology, or SSAs.

Making valuable contributions

Institutions in India will supply all the hardware for the SRF cavity amplifiers. The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai will provide amplifiers for the lower-energy single-spoke resonator cryomodules. So far, they have sent nine 325-megahertz 7-kilowatt amplifiers, which Fermilab tested in beam operations.

Meanwhile, RRCAT will provide amplifiers for the 650-megahertz cryomodules: 36 of the 40-kilowatt and 24 of the 70-kilowatt types. The amplifiers sent during the pandemic were prototypes of a 32-kilowatt and 40-kilowatt amplifier to be used for testing. (PIP-II will not use a 32-kilowatt amplifier in the accelerator, but it was sent as a prototype for proof of concept.)

Each amplifier is made up of dozens to hundreds of 500-watt amplifier modules, called power amplifiers, or PAs. The large magnitude of modules required for assembly—ranging from 96 to 232 PAs per amplifier—make the amplifiers extremely complex.

“RF amplifiers are really delicate and complex equipment. After commissioning in PIP-II, they will be operated for 20 years,” said Deepak Sharma, a scientific officer at RRCAT. “So, this is a highly important task for both institutions.”

Sharma is one of the two Indian scientists visiting Fermilab to work on the amplifiers. He arrived in early May, overlapping with fellow RRCAT scientific officer Alok Gupta who arrived in February and departed mid-May. Sharma’s stay will last approximately three months. It is the first visit to the United States for the scientists, both of whom were on the RRCAT team that developed the amplifiers in India.

“I think it is important that they are able to visit the laboratory and see their product in action,” says Steimel. “They’re seeing how this is actually working in operation: They’re watching the operators using it, trying to keep the field up in the cavities. They’re getting feedback from the people that are operating it in terms of possible issues with control and stability.”

The prototype 32-kilowatt amplifier initially encountered some issues during testing. So, Gupta set up a test stand to measure, qualify and repair the PAs for 650-megahertz SSAs. After two months of work with Fermilab engineers, Gupta reported the amplifier now functions reliably.

Sharma has continued working on improving the amplifier design while on site. He and Gupta will take those improvements and bring them back to RRCAT to be considered for the next set of designs based on updated requirement specifications. “These improvements will be incorporated in final sets of the amplifiers as prototype amplifiers were based upon earlier requirements,” said Gupta. “So, we will be working on the newer designs at our lab at RRCAT.”

The RRCAT team is currently prototyping improved amplifier subsystems for PIP-II. The final design review for the 40-kilowatt amplifier is tentatively scheduled for September; in the meantime, RRCAT will conduct their own internal reviews.

In a few years, when the PIP-II team is ready to assemble the entire accelerator, Gupta and Sharma hope to return to Fermilab with their team to install their amplifiers — in person, this time.

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov.