QICK

HRL Laboratories developed an open-source extension to the Quantum Instrumentation Control Kit developed at Fermilab. QICK was designed to control electrostatically confined semiconductor spin-qubits.

As the Quantum Science Center prepares to move forward into the next era of research, QSC Director Travis Humble highlighted the Quantum Instrumentation Control Kit developed at Fermilab as a significant accomplishment.

A trio of Lederman fellows at Fermilab are developing ways to use quantum technology to probe the universe for dark matter and other physics phenomena. While doing so, they are sharing their enthusiasm for their work to inspire the next generation of scientists.

Fermilab scientists hope to harness the powers of quantum computers to solve unprecedented problems. Central to this goal is the ability to communicate between the quantum and classical computing worlds.

In 2024, Fermilab made significant scientific progress, including advancing preparations for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment and conducting groundbreaking quantum research. The laboratory also continued its strong international collaborations — including involvement with the CMS experiment at CERN — and made strides in developing emerging technologies with wide applications beyond physics.

The Quantum Instrumentation Control Kit now features updated software and firmware and new companion hardware called QICK box. This Fermilab-developed system combines everything a scientist might need to conduct mind-bending research in a pizza-box-sized case.

From Amazon Web Services blog, March 7, 2023: The new Quantum Instrumentation Control Kit (QICK) developed by Fermilab and U Chicago engineers proved to drastically improve quantum computer performance while cutting the cost of control equipment. Now, Amazon Web Services has collaborated with Fermilab QICK engineers to have the tool kit accepted as an open-source software project for quantum devices.

From Quantum Computing Report, April 30, 2022: A Fermilab quantum engineering team has collaborated with the University of Chicago to create a new open-source design for control electronics for superconducting quantum processors called the Quantum Instrumentation Control Kit.

Quantum computing experiments now have a new control and readout electronics option that will significantly improve performance while replacing cumbersome and expensive systems. Developed by a team of engineers at Fermilab in collaboration with the University of Chicago, the Quantum Instrumentation Control Kit, or QICK for short, is easily scalable.