The US Army is investing in quantum research that explores how vibrations affect electronic behavior in ultrathin materials. Scientists at the University of California, Riverside, are investigating whether these quantum vibrations, known as vibronic effects, could transform energy harvesting and computational systems.
The Center for Quantum Vibronics in Energy and Time (QuVET) brings together experts across physics, chemistry, engineering, and biochemistry to examine these interactions in biological and synthetic systems. Researchers aim to determine whether a quantum wave function will jump across an interface or remain in its original position. “The idea is that vibrations may become the control knob, enabling future ‘quantum vibronic switches’ that use crystal vibrations to turn quantum transitions on and off,” said Nathaniel Gabor, a professor of physics and astronomy.
Understanding this switching process is crucial for enhancing technologies like solar power generation. Energy created from light must separate into free charges rapidly to avoid dissipating as heat or re-emitting as light. Gabor noted that biological systems efficiently extract energy, and his team seeks to replicate that efficiency in artificial materials. The mechanisms observed in photosynthesis, where quantum excitations move between molecules until reaching a reaction center, could inform new forms of quantum control in synthetic devices.
The Army funds this research through a Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative grant from the Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Office. Program manager Tania Paskova stated that understanding vibronic effects could be essential for developing future artificial biological systems within military applications. “This research is answering critical scientific questions that could become instrumental in understanding and controlling vibronic effects,” she said.
The Army recognizes significant challenges in translating these laboratory findings into practical applications. Most quantum experiments require low temperatures and controlled settings, which are unsuitable for battlefield environments. By focusing on basic research rather than immediate prototypes, the Army indicates a long-term strategic investment in quantum physics that may take decades to mature. The success of this investment depends entirely on future experimental results, which are still pending.
