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New technologies

Modern technologies create new opportunities for society, and every one of them – from transistors and semiconductors to electric cars and artificial intelligence  has its roots in basic science. While some of these technologies, such as fusion energy and quantum computing, are years away from practical application, they have the potential to offer solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. 

At SLAC, our unique workforce, expertise, facilities and partnerships keep us at the forefront of  emerging research areas that are the foundation of technologies that will shape our future.

 

Beams of light used to study quantum optics.

Quantum information science (QIS)

The coming quantum technology revolution will profoundly change our understanding of the world and the way we live. SLAC research, including quantum materials for unprecedented computing technologies and ultrasensitive sensors for detecting dark matter, will expedite that transition and help build the quantum workforce of the future.

QIS news

Science initiative

QIS research at SLAC

Qubits, quantum sensors and quantum algorithms: Find out more about the fascinating QIS research at the lab.

Qubit discovery and design
DOE collaboration

Q-NEXT national quantum center

As key partners in Q-NEXT, SLAC and Stanford are establishing a quantum foundry that will develop quantum materials, devices and other essential building blocks of QIS infrastructure.

New Technologies
SLAC-Stanford partnership

Teaming up with Stanford

Through the Q-FARM multidisciplinary initiative, SLAC and Stanford accelerate the development of competitive QIS technology and address today’s most difficult research challenges.

Qfarm Vector
fusion energy illustration

Fusion energy

SLAC partners with other institutions to develop technology that could pave the way for practical fusion energy, addressing global clean energy needs and keeping the U.S. at the forefront of this crucial research area. As a collaborator in two DOE fusion hubs, SLAC is focused on building technologies to make fusion energy a reality and the workforce needed to bring about that future..

Inertial fusion energy news

Abstract tech background made of printed circuit boards.

Machine learning/AI

Machine learning, a form of artificial intelligence (A.I.), outperforms traditional computational methods in many areas, for instance by vastly speeding up the tedious handling of huge batches of complex data. At SLAC, researchers use it to advance the lab’s unique scientific facilities and research.

AI and machine learning

SLAC scientists apply machine learning to boost the performance of our state-of-the-art research facilities, study biomolecules and their roles in disease, reveal the properties of mysterious fundamental particles, discover materials with novel properties, and do much more.

Molecule created using Cryogenic Electron Microscopy.
LSST camera focal plane

Big data

SLAC researchers are preparing for a new generation of scientific instruments and experiments that will generate enormous streams of data. They’re developing software that can run on future exascale supercomputers and tools that will allow researchers to collect and analyze unprecedented volumes of data in a very short time.

Large datasets news

SLAC-Stanford partnership

Computer science at SLAC

To address challenges associated with extremely large data volumes and rates, SLAC’s Computer Science Division works with Stanford and Silicon Valley partners on innovative computational solutions.

SLAC’s Computer Science division
ePix camera zoom

Semiconductors & microelectronics

Semiconductors and microelectronics are essential components in technologies of everyday life, from electronic devices, computing and communications to transportation, healthcare and clean energy. SLAC’s decades of experience in developing advanced materials, sensors, circuits and architectures and handling enormous volumes of complex data have equipped it to address critical challenges in semiconductors and microelectronics in partnership with DOE and Stanford.

Microelectronics news

SLAC has been working in partnership with DOE’s Advanced Manufacturing Office to bring researchers together around the topic of improving energy efficiency in computing. One goal is to make microelectronics 1,000 times more efficient over the next two decades. 

Microelectronics illustration
A compressor using terahertz radiation.

Technology innovation

SLAC’s expert scientists, engineers and technicians are advancing the state of the art in detectors, particle accelerators and radio frequency (RF) technologies, paving the way for progress  in astrophysics, biomedicine, national security and other disciplines.  We also collaborate with researchers in industry, academia and other laboratories to design, model and fabricate systems based on our innovations.

Technology innovation news

Explore some of the applications where our technology innovations make an impact.

New technologies
Dig deeper

Latest news in new technologies

Press Release

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Christian Tanner
News Feature

Digital design engineer Abhilasha Dave’s passion for connecting machine learning and hardware is helping SLAC solve big data challenges.

Photo of Abhilasha Dave in her office
Press Release

The high-energy upgrade will keep the U.S. at the forefront of X-ray science and technology, allowing researchers to advance fields such as sustainability, human...

LCLS-II-HE
News Feature

Tanner works on self-assembling nanocrystals, which could be the basis for less expensive, easier to build displays and solar cells.

Christian Tanner
News Feature

Digital design engineer Abhilasha Dave’s passion for connecting machine learning and hardware is helping SLAC solve big data challenges.

Photo of Abhilasha Dave in her office
News Feature

David Cesar, Julia Gonski and W.L. Kimmy Wu will each receive $2.75 million issued over five years for their research in X-ray and ultrafast...

Early Career Award Winners 2024
News Feature

The Center for Energy Efficient Magnonics (CEEMag) brings together a multidisciplinary group of researchers from SLAC and seven universities

Spin wave-based interconnect illustration
News Feature

The Aqueous Battery Consortium of Stanford, SLAC, and 13 others seeks to overcome the limitations of a battery using water as its electrolyte.