Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

In the quest to revolutionize quantum computing, Kevin Roccapriore recently transitioned from a researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to a full-time entrepreneur launching AtomQ, a business aimed at advancing quantum technologies.

His academic journey began with a degree in nutrition with plans for dental school – fields seemingly disconnected from quantum computing. However, after deciding that he didn’t want to pursue this route, Roccapriore switched gears to study physics, ultimately earning a Ph.D. in the field.

Specializing in nanofabrication and nano-optics, he honed his expertise in manipulating materials at the nanoscale, a skill that would later become pivotal in his research. At ORNL, Roccapriore found himself working with high-powered electron microscopes—giant, towering instruments unlike the simple benchtop devices many associate with microscopy.

These devices can examine materials at the atomic level, far beyond what traditional optical microscopes can achieve. At the same time, they can also knock around the atoms within a material, resulting in undesirable damage to a material.

“I didn’t realize that the technology had come that far,” Roccapriore said. “So, my team started experimenting with the movement of individual atoms, and how we can control this in different ways in order to build things/structures one atom at a time.”

While controlling atomic movement isn’t a new idea, the ability to do so precisely and without causing damage is a challenge that many previous researchers have encountered.

That’s where the innovation comes in – Roccapriore co-developed a method using electron microscopy that could move atoms in a controlled, non-destructive manner within a material. He did so alongside partners at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

This breakthrough, he explains, is critical for one major field: quantum computing.

“Quantum computing, while often portrayed as a futuristic and almost mythical technology, is very much a reality today—albeit in its early stages,” Roccapriore said. “The potential of quantum computers to solve complex problems is far beyond the capabilities of even the most powerful supercomputers such as Frontier at ORNL. But the success of this technology hinges on one crucial element – ‘qubits.’”

Qubits are quantum bits that can exist in multiple states simultaneously, unlike classical bits that are either 0 or 1.

“The problem in the quantum industry is that we currently have at best about a thousand qubits, where to solve the real problems, we actually need millions or even billions,” he said.

This is where controlling atoms at the nanoscale becomes a game-changer. By manipulating atoms within a material, Roccapriore’s technology could enable the creation of more reliable and scalable qubits, pushing the field closer to realizing the full promise of quantum computing.

Since there’s so much unknown, the realm of quantum computing is high risk and high reward. But, Roccapriore said it’s a risk he’s willing to take.

He stepped down from his full-time staff position at ORNL to pursue this technology and commercialize his research. But he will still be spending the bulk of his time at the national lab. Roccapriore was accepted into the 2024 cohort of “Innovation Crossroads,” which will help him develop his tech, make connections, learn business skills, and still access laboratory space.

“The specialized equipment needed for my work is both rare and expensive—electron microscopes like the ones at Oak Ridge can cost several million dollars apiece,” he said. “The lab spaces are quite critical. There’s only two of these particular electron microscopes in the region.”

Additionally, he said making connections and developing entrepreneurship skills are of vital importance to him.

“With quantum, it sometimes sounds like a thing of the future that will never reach the present. But, with our technology, the ‘future’ is much closer,” he said.

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