Welcome to the
Minnich Group
Our group develops microwave and millimeter-wave instrumentation for applications in radio astronomy and quantum information science. We work at the intersection of engineering, materials science, and physics.
Group News
Latest publications
Taeyong and Jaeyun submit paper on the origin of micron-scale mean free paths of acoustic excitations in amorphous silicon. Jul. 30, 2020
Alex and Peishi submit paper on calculating electronic noise in semiconductors from first-principles. Sept. 23, 2020
Happenings
Austin's work on anharmonic localization in lead selenide published as an APS science highlight here.
Feb. 18, 2020
Benjamin passes candidacy. Congratulations!
Sept. 15, 2020
Taeyong successfully defends his thesis!
Congratulations Dr. Kim!
Aug. 27, 2020
Shi-Ning and Adrian submit paper on using Quantum Imaginary Time Evolution to calculate finite-temperature properties of spin systems. Sept. 8, 2020
Yang publishes paper on electronic structure of nickel oxide and manganese oxide using coupled cluster theory. Apr. 27, 2020
Jaeyun successfully defends his thesis!
Congratulations Dr. Moon!
Dec. 11, 2019
Research
Answering fundamental questions in physics and cosmology requires precision in measurement at or beyond the standard limits imposed by quantum mechanics. Our group’s overarching goal is to advance the science and technology of measurement that allows these questions to be answered. Our present research is divided into three thrusts.
Low noise transistor microwave amplifiers
We are developing transistor microwave amplifiers used in radio astronomy and other fields that operate near the standard quantum limit of noise. Read more here.
Transport and fluctuation phenomena in semiconductors
We are advancing ab-initio methods to compute high-field transport and fluctuation phenomena in solids without any adjustable parameters. Read more here.
Quantum simulation
We are developing algorithms for quantum simulation on near-term quantum hardware as well as examining how theoretical proposals for error correction schemes perform on near-term devices in the presence of non-idealities such as cross-talk. Read more here.
Principal Investigator
Austin J. Minnich
Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Physics
Professional Preparation
BS University of California Berkeley, 2006
MS Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2008
PhD Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2011
Appointments
Professor, California Institute of Technology, 2017-Present
Assistant Professor, California Institute of Technology, 2011-2017
Click here for a copy of Austin's CV
Current group members
hirsh kamakari
BS, University of British ColumbiaResearch interests:
Quantum simulation, quantum error correction.
Joined group: 2020
shi-ning sun
BS, University of ChicagoResearch interests:
Quantum simulation, quantum algorithms
Joined group: 2019
tomi esho
BS, University of Texas at ArlingtonResearch interests:
Electronic fluctuations, low-noise amplifiers.
Joined group: 2019
ben hatanpää
BS, Georgia TechResearch interests:
First-principles hot electron noise in semiconductors.
Joined group: 2019
adrian tan
BS, National University of SingaporeResearch interests:
Quantum simulation, quantum algorithms.
Joined group: 2018
nachiket naik
BS, Georgia TechResearch interests:
Electron transport in heterojunction bipolar transistors, low-noise amplifiers.
Joined group: 2018
alex choi
BSE, University of ConnecticutResearch interests:
Charge transport and fluctuations in semiconductors, low-noise amplifiers.
Joined group: 2017
peishi cheng
BS, University of FloridaResearch interests:
First-principles hot electron noise in semiconductors.
Joined group: 2016
yang gao
BS, University of Science and Technology of ChinaResearch interests:
Ab initio wavefunction methods, tensor networks.
Joined group: 2017
erika ye
BS, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyResearch interests:
Quantum dynamics, tensor networks.
Joined group: 2016
zoila jurado
BS, University of ConnecticutResearch interests:
Cell-free expression, synthetic cells, trans-membrane channels.
Joined group: 2016
Click here to see our group alumni.
Teaching
Fall 2020
ME 11a: Thermal Science
This term of ME 11 is an introduction to classical thermodynamics. We will emphasize the first and second laws of thermodynamics for closed and open systems, and introduce the relations between thermodynamic properties.