Construction work at Fermilab near Kirk and Giese Roads

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 6 to open “The Quantum Garage,” a new flagship quantum research facility. The 6,000-sq.-ft. lab was imagined, designed and built by the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center to unite scientific communities, industries and start-ups nationally and internationally to advance quantum information science and technology.

Senior officials attending the event included DOE Undersecretary for Science and Innovation Geri Richmond, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Deputy Gov. Martin Torres, U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, members of the Illinois state legislature, the consul generals of U.K. and Italy, as well as leaders from other federal agencies, including NASA, federal labs, academia and industry from across the U.S. and the world.

“The SQMS Quantum Garage will enable the scientific community, including start-ups, academia and industry to advance quantum technology and science, and break through the difficult technical barriers, with increased access to cutting-edge scientific tools and equipment,” said DOE Under Secretary for Science and Innovation Richmond.

The facility features several newly commissioned, large dilution refrigerators capable of reaching cryogenic temperatures just a tick above absolute zero. The fridges host platforms developed by the SQMS collaboration for performing quantum computation, sensing, metrology and communications.

These quantum platforms include the first commercial quantum processor deployed on-premise at Fermilab; quantum memories and transducers based on novel approaches that leverage Fermilab’s world-leading technology expertise; quantum metrology tools for developing materials standards; and quantum sensors for fundamental physics, with the potential to discover dark matter and detect gravitational waves.

Each of these platforms and experiments further advance the collaborative efforts of the 34 SQMS partners across industry, academia and federal labs, including Ames National Laboratory, NASA, NIST, Northwestern University, Rigetti Computing, the Italian Institute of Nuclear Physics, the U.K. National Physics Laboratory and more.

“The SQMS Quantum Garage signals a new era in this field, and represents the best of our National Quantum Initiative,” said Gov. Pritzker. “SQMS will accomplish what few other can — building on Fermilab’s unique strengths in related accelerator technology and particle physics, and creating a global partnership which spans across academia, national labs and industry, and federal agencies to reach a new quantum frontier. I’m thrilled to see our state attract the best in quantum science, and I am committed to making Illinois the premier hub of quantum development.”

The new facility will also train the next generation of quantum computing scientists, engineers and support staff. Recently, this 360-degree research space was the core training ground for the SQMS Center-led U.S. Quantum Information Science School that launched this August. The SQMS Center has already trained hundreds of students and through new partnerships with minority-serving institutions and strategic partners in the state of Illinois, the new lab will be a crucial space for training a diverse quantum workforce.

“At today’s inauguration of the Quantum Garage, we celebrate important scientific and technological advancements made by SQMS during its first three years of existence and, at the same time, the innovations and breakthroughs to come in the field of quantum information science and technology,” said SQMS Center Director Anna Grassellino. “Today would not be possible without the Department of Energy, Fermilab and the hard work done by our staff within the SQMS Center who have built this collaborative space.”

SQMS is one of the five Department of Energy National Quantum Information Science Research Centers.

A recording from today’s event is available at https://cms.illinois.gov/agency/media/video/videos.html.

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 more than 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.

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is America’s premier national laboratory for particle physics research. A U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science laboratory, Fermilab is located near Chicago, Illinois, and operated under contract by the Fermi Research Alliance LLC. Visit Fermilab’s website at https://www.fnal.gov and follow us on Twitter @Fermilab.

What is your new role at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory?

I’m the environmental program manager, and I’ve been here for three months. It’s really great. I feel so fortunate to be part of such a cohesive team who are learning from each other and supporting one another and have a lot of energy. My whole career has kind of culminated in this position — and it’s so exciting to be here.

How has your career led you to this position at Fermilab?

I’m a geologist and have spent most of my career in environmental consulting. I also worked with the state of Wisconsin as chief of the Petroleum Cleanup Fund, so I have experience as a regulator and got to see things from that compliance perspective. For my “midlife crisis,” I left the field, and I became a secondary science and English-as-a-second language teacher.

My father was a drilling engineer and managed water projects around the world, so groundwater protection and environmental compliance have been a focus throughout my life. I went back into consulting and had my own firm for a few years, representing municipalities and providing expert witness services for law firms. I started working for DOE projects back in 2018.

I took a tour of Fermilab in 2016, and I decided at that time that this is where I wanted to culminate my career, by working at Fermilab. I love the fact that it’s focused on research and discovery. I love that there are so many dynamic people who are exploring the universe and all the complex problems related to energy and dark matter. The physics part of Fermilab just geeks me out every day.

As the environmental program manager, what are your goals for this program?

My goal in the next few years is to integrate environmental management into every system. We cover a lot of aspects related to the environment, everything from air emissions, cultural resource management, the National Environmental Policy Act, groundwater, permits for water going into the City of Batavia wastewater treatment system, and hazardous waste. There are a lot of decisions that we have to make on site, and we are involved in making sure that Fermilab remains compliant with all of these.

One of my goals is to have people realize that the environmental program is here, not just to focus on compliance, but to be a part of the team that ensures the Fermilab mission continues in the most efficient and effective way possible. We really want to build those systems in so they’re a part of everyone’s thought process — so that people think: ‘What are the environmental requirements here? Who do I call? Let’s get the environmental team in. Let’s ask them questions.’ We want environmental management to be an integral part of everyone’s job, not a just second thought.

What projects are you working on right now?

We have a lot of projects going on, but right now I’d say we’re working on two big focuses.

We conduct an internal Environmental Management System assessment where we evaluate the EMS every three years. What we do is conduct interviews and review documentation. This EMS assessment will help us determine how we can enhance our system and how we can better communicate it to everyone in the laboratory. We’ve been able to expand our environmental department significantly, and with that we have tremendous opportunities to spend time building working relationships and training others. It’s really an exciting time for me to be here because I like that challenge!

Another issue we’re working on is an emerging contaminant called PFAS: per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. PFAS is ubiquitous; it’s everywhere. For example, it is in non-stick pans, fire extinguishers, sticky notes and other household items. It has a fluorine-carbon bond that is very difficult to destroy, and to dispose of it is incredibly costly.

DOE has an action plan, and part of it is to minimize use of PFAS substances on site, but there are areas where projects require its continued use. We are preparing best management practices to put into place. We’re determining where we could provide training and more explanation of what makes a PFAS substance different than anything else and how it needs to be handled a little bit differently.

What is the most challenging part of the work you are doing?

I’d say the most challenging part is that I want to understand everything that’s going on at Fermilab right now! I know it’s going to take years for me to understand the various aspects of this facility. Fortunately, the staff on the environmental team are great about anticipating and sharing the information I need to know.

What is the most rewarding part of your position?

The constant opportunity to geek out over the incredible science that we do here. That is by far the best. And also the endless camaraderie among everyone. I mean, everyone is just so available to help.

What do you do for fun outside of the lab?

I really like hiking and exploring, whether it’s in the city or in national parks.

My husband and I live on a farm in Wisconsin. So, I’m here during the week, and I go home on weekends. We have a small herd of llamas and goats, and they’re really fun.

Do you have any final words that you want people to know about your role?

I really want to help build a synergy throughout the laboratory. We’re here to work together to support the mission.

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 is pleased to announce that Rae Moss will serve as the senior director of the lab’s communication division. She began her role on Oct. 2, coming from Idaho National Lab, where she was the director of communications and external affairs and, most recently, the head of Pacific Northwest external engagement.

“It is an exciting time at Fermilab with the expansion of new facilities and the research that is advancing high energy physics,” said Moss. “I am excited to move the mission of the lab ahead with dynamic communications and stories telling the public about the exciting work being done here.”

In her role as Fermilab’s senior director of communication, Moss will oversee external, internal and digital communications, focusing on increasing awareness and engagement between Fermilab and its key stakeholders; education and public engagement; and conference management. 

She will be responsible for advancing the lab’s brand, reputation and mission as Fermilab is leading the development of the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment. DUNE is an experiment involving over 1,400 scientists and engineers from around the world who will research the behavior of neutrinos to understand why we live in a matter-dominated universe — in other words, why we are here at all.

Moss has more than 20 years of experience and leadership in communications and outreach at national labs and federal organizations. Prior to her leadership positions at INL, she served as the director of communications and external affairs at Mission Support Alliance, the provider for infrastructure, communications, utilities and security at the Hanford Site in Washington state and held communications positions at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

She has been an adjunct professor of marketing at Washington State University in Richland, Washington, and is currently completing her organizational development and communications doctoral degree at the University of Missouri. She earned her MBA in marketing from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

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 Proton Improvement Plan II project, known as PIP-II, is a billion-dollar enhancement to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory accelerator complex. The project is constructing a 215-meter-long state-of-the-art superconducting linear accelerator.

Not only will the new linear accelerator drive a broad physics research program, but it will also provide powerful, high-intensity proton beams. It will enable the world’s most intense neutrino beam to the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, DUNE, hosted by the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility in Batavia, Illinois, and Lead, South Dakota. Once complete, DUNE will be the most comprehensive neutrino experiment ever built; scientists will use it to answer questions about why matter exists, how nature’s four forces could unify and how black holes are formed.

A world-renowned accelerator physicist, Pantaleo Raimondi will step in as PIP-II’s new project director on Dec. 4. 

PIP-II has operated under the guidance of interim project director Rich Stanek since April 2022. Before that, Lia Merminga was the PIP-II project director for four years; she left the position when she was appointed director of Fermilab.

“I am extremely excited that Pantaleo accepted to undertake the role of PIP-II project director,” said Cristian Boffo, PIP-II project manager. “He is a world-renowned accelerator physicist with considerable know-how in building complex machines, and he will provide a tremendous boost to PIP-II. I am looking forward to working under his leadership and helping complete this crucial upgrade of the Fermilab accelerator complex.”

PIP-II is the first particle accelerator built in the U.S. with significant contributions from international partners. Institutions in France, India, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States will bring together their expertise and capabilities in superconducting radio frequency and associated technologies to construct this state-of-the-art facility.

“Fermilab is a world-leading institution for particle physics and accelerator physics, and the PIP-II project will solidify this reputation,” said Raimondi, currently the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource beam dynamics group head at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. “It is an honor for me to lead this project with the potential to change the field of physics.”

Raimondi has worked in particle physics since his graduate studies as part of the ALEPH Collaboration at CERN in Switzerland. After graduating, his career has pulled him back and forth between Frascati, Italy, and SLAC in Menlo Park, California. First at ENEA-Frascati in Italy, he worked on design and development of radiofrequency power systems, theoretical and technical analysis of linear accelerators and microtrons, beam transport studies and other topics related to electron accelerators. At SLAC, Raimondi worked on beam-based alignment and final focus systems. 

Later, as head of the accelerator division at Italy’s National Institute for Nuclear Physics Frascati Laboratory, INFN-LNF, in Rome, he participated in commissioning DAFNE, an electron-positron collider. Raimondi contributed to improving the understanding and performance of DAFNE and developed new techniques to improve its luminosity.

One of Raimondi’s most impactful and lasting career achievements came when he was accelerator and source division director at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, or ESRF, in Grenoble, France. There he invented the concept of “extremely brilliant source,” or EBS, which became the basis of the latest upgrade of the ESRF synchrotron ring, a project that Raimondi successfully led and completed. His revolutionary design is now being replicated by all major synchrotron light sources around the world.

“Pantaleo is a brilliant accelerator physicist and a proven project manager. His leadership on the ESRF light source upgrade shows us that the PIP-II project is in more-than-capable hands,” said Lia Merminga, Fermilab director. “We couldn’t have found a better person to lead our flagship accelerator project that will usher in a new era for science!” 

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.