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Ramin Ayanzadeh joined 91�Թ���’s��Department of Computer Science as an assistant professor in the fall of 2024. His research focuses on trustworthy quantum computing to enhance the reliability and security of quantum systems.��

Your research area is quite complex—let’s break it down. Can you explain quantum computing?

Three properties—superposition, entanglement and interference—are needed for quantum computers to solve complex problems much faster than classical supercomputers.

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����To my knowledge, I’m the only faculty member in the region who focuses on quantum software, systems and the architecture of quantum computers."��

Classical computers use bits that are like tiny switches, each one is either off (0) or on (1). However, quantum computing uses quantum bits called qubits, which are more like spinning coins. They can exist in a superposition of both 0 and 1 simultaneously, like a coin spinning in mid-air, not yet heads or tails.

But quantum power doesn’t stop there. With entanglement, pairs of qubits can become deeply connected, so that flipping one is like instantly flipping the other, no matter how far apart they are—kind of like a pair of magic dice that always land on matching numbers.

And through interference, quantum computers guide the spinning coins toward the right answer by reinforcing correct paths and canceling out wrong ones—like tuning a symphony so only the right notes ring out clearly.

Together, these properties give quantum computers the potential to solve some problems much faster than any traditional machine.

Why is quantum computing important?

We believe that quantum computers are going to solve problems beyond the capabilities of classical supercomputers. It's beyond scaling what we already have. For example, even if we covered an entire country like Germany with supercomputers and powered them with all of�� Earth’s energy, some problems would still take hundreds of years to solve.

Quantum computers could solve some of these problems in just hours or days, unlocking new possibilities for scientific discovery. Their impact spans across fields like drug discovery, climate research, finance and healthcare.

What are some of the challenges of quantum computing?

The challenge with quantum computing is that quantum hardware is inherently noisy, making it highly susceptible to errors. As a result, instead of producing reliable solutions, computations often end in noise, meaning the qubits are unintentionally disturbed by their environment.��

There are different qubit technology approaches, such as building qubits using superconducting devices, photons and atoms, and more are coming.

The superconducting qubit technology is one of the leading candidates, and major companies like Google and IBM are following this path. With this technology, quantum devices must be physically shielded from the environment, but completely isolating them is almost impossible. These quantum technologies are operated near absolute zero—around negative 273 degrees Celsius—to maintain quantum stability. The cables inside dilution refrigerators, specialized cooling systems used to reach extremely low temperatures, transmit some heat from the external environment, introducing noise.��

As errors and noise accumulate, especially in large programs, they overwhelm the computation. Instead of producing meaningful results, the quantum program outputs random numbers. We need solutions to either prevent these issues or to detect and correct them during computation.

What unique contributions do you bring to 91�Թ���’s quantum efforts?��

To my knowledge, I’m the only faculty member in the region who focuses on quantum software, systems and the architecture of quantum computers. Most other faculty members work primarily at the physical level, aiming to build larger and more advanced quantum hardware, or they focus on theoretical aspects at the end-user side. I am the only researcher whose work bridges these middle layers.��

Your research focuses on “trustworthy” quantum computing. What does trustworthy mean in this context?

Waiting for physicists to significantly improve hardware quality could take decades, if not centuries. Instead, we aim to bridge the gap between the expectations of end users—such as mathematicians, chemists and finance professionals—and the current limitations of noisy, error-prone quantum hardware.��

This is the main portion of the “trustworthy” term, but there's another angle.

One key focus is error detection and correction. The goal is to identify and fix errors as they occur to prevent them from propagating through a computation. For example, in a quantum program with a million operations, if we regularly check the state of the qubits and correct errors immediately, we can maintain the integrity of the results. This approach is known as fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC) and is a critical step toward making quantum computing more reliable.

To implement error correction effectively, we need thousands, or millions, or even billions of these qubits. It's not going to happen very soon. We don't want to wait many years for large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers to become a reality before benefiting from them—we want to start realizing their potential in the near-term.�� That's the goal of my research group in the coming years.

What are some of quantum computing’s challenges with security?

Security is a key aspect of trustworthiness. Since in the future most users won’t have their own quantum computers, most will rely on cloud providers to access remote quantum computers.

The intellectual property involved in this technology is so sensitive. As companies increasingly delegate their quantum programs to remote servers, a critical question arises: What if the server isn't trustworthy? What if an insider gains access?

Our goal is to protect the security and privacy of quantum users.����

Will quantum computing be limited to a small group of experts, or will it benefit the general public?

While not everyone will directly use quantum computers, everyone will benefit from them. For example, in pharmaceuticals, a major challenge is early disease detection, such as identifying cancer at its earliest stages. Quantum technology could help detect many diseases that are currently undetectable.

Quantum science and technology can also take navigation systems, sensors and clocks to the next level. Our current navigation systems are vulnerable to spoofing. NSA studies have reported thousands of spoofing incidents by Russia in the United States, where GPS signals are manipulated, causing inaccuracies in location data. By leveraging quantum technology, we can develop navigation systems that are protected against such spoofing.��

Will quantum computing have an effect on AI?

I am also involved in quantum AI and quantum machine learning, where we're exploring the next generation of AI. AI is a software challenge, while quantum is a hardware concept. The question we’re addressing is: What happens to AI and machine learning if we gain access to large, reliable quantum computers? Could this lead to a new type of AI and machine learning?��

One area we’re exploring is understanding the limitations of current AI when quantum data, primarily generated by quantum sensors, begins to play a role. Quantum sensors, devices that use quantum-mechanical properties to measure physical quantities, such as magnetic fields or acceleration, with extreme precision, can outperform classical sensors in terms of sensitivity and accuracy, making them valuable for applications in navigation, medical imaging and fundamental physics research.��

Why did you choose 91�Թ���? What makes us different in the field of quantum?

91�Թ��� is gaining momentum in quantum research, setting itself apart from peer institutions in a significant way.

We offer a range of undergraduate and graduate courses, including new ones that I’m developing. 91�Թ��� also has courses in the physics department, with faculty from ECEE (Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering) contributing to quantum engineering. Through initiatives like CUbit and the�� Initiative and other activities in the region, we have already started training.

I believe the university is going to play a crucial role in meeting the nation's growing demand for experts in quantum science and technology. When we start to have quantum computers, there will be a huge demand for quantum experts, and 91�Թ��� is in a position to play a crucial role in training the next generations of quantum scientists and engineers.

Within five to 10 miles of 91�Թ��� there’s a dense concentration of quantum activities, unlike any other school I’m aware of. We have four quantum companies in our vicinity as well as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), all of which are essential for success in this field.