| Paul Scherrer Institute | |
|---|---|
| Name | Paul Scherrer Institute |
| Native name | Paul Scherrer Institut |
| Established | 1988 |
| Type | Multidisciplinary research institute |
| Director | Joël Mesot |
| City | Villigen, Canton of Aargau |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Affiliations | Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, European Organization for Nuclear Research |
Paul Scherrer Institute
The Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) is Switzerland's largest research institute for natural and engineering sciences, combining large-scale facilities and laboratory groups to advance experimental and theoretical work in quantum physics. PSI matters in quantum science for its integrated infrastructure—synchrotron and neutron sources, muon facilities, and cryogenic instrumentation—that enables investigation of quantum materials, quantum information science, and quantum-enabled technologies with national and international impact.
PSI's mission emphasizes fundamental research, applied development, and technology transfer with an eye toward societal benefits and equitable access to innovation. Within quantum mechanics and applied quantum science, PSI supports studies ranging from microscopic probes of electron correlations to device-oriented work on qubits and sensors. Strategic goals include strengthening Swiss capacity in quantum information, supporting academic and industrial partners such as the ETH Zurich, EPFL, and companies in the quantum computing supply chain, and ensuring research outcomes contribute to public welfare, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.
PSI was founded by merging the Federal Institute for Reactor Research and the Swiss Institute for Nuclear Research in 1988 and inherited a tradition of condensed matter and particle physics that dates to mid-20th-century European laboratories. Over subsequent decades PSI expanded with major facility projects—the Swiss Light Source (SLS), the Swiss Muon Source (SμS), and the SINQ spallation neutron source—each progressively enabling quantum investigations: the SLS for electronic structure and time-resolved spectroscopy; SμS for local magnetic and superconducting studies; SINQ for structural dynamics in quantum materials. PSI's programs evolved to respond to national initiatives such as the National Centre of Competence in Research networks and European frameworks like Horizon 2020 to nurture quantum science and innovation.
PSI hosts multiple large-scale instruments critical for quantum research. The Swiss Light Source provides synchrotron radiation used in angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS), and coherent x-ray imaging to map band structures and quasiparticle dynamics. The SINQ supports neutron scattering for studies of magnetic excitations, spin liquids, and superconductors. The SμS enables muon spin rotation/relaxation (μSR) to probe local magnetism and superconducting gap symmetries. PSI also runs cryogenic and dilution refrigerator platforms, high-field magnet laboratories, and cleanrooms for device fabrication—critical for superconducting qubits and topological device experiments. These facilities are complemented by high-performance computing clusters for quantum simulation and data analysis.
PSI research spans core quantum domains: - Quantum materials: experimental and theoretical work on high-temperature superconductivity, topological insulators, quantum spin liquids, and correlated electron systems using ARPES, neutron scattering, and μSR to resolve emergent quasiparticles and collective modes. - Quantum information and sensing: development and characterization of qubit platforms (superconducting circuits, hybrid spin systems), quantum sensors exploiting NV centers and superconducting devices, and metrology linked to the METAS standards. - Quantum simulation and theory: many-body simulations, coupled experimental–theory studies, and use of analogue quantum simulators to reproduce Hubbard-model physics relevant to materials. PSI groups contribute to methodology in density functional theory and quantum Monte Carlo applied to experimentally characterized compounds. Work explicitly addresses reproducibility, open data standards, and cross-validation across techniques to accelerate robust discoveries.
PSI operates within broad collaborative networks: academic partnerships with ETH Zurich, EPFL, University of Zurich, and international links to CERN, the Max Planck Society, and national quantum initiatives. PSI trains doctoral and postdoctoral researchers through joint PhD programs and hosts workshops and schools on spectroscopy, cryogenics, and quantum device fabrication. Technology transfer is coordinated with the ETH transfer offices, fostering spin-offs and collaborations with industry players in cryogenics, superconducting electronics, and quantum instrumentation. PSI membership in European research infrastructures and participation in consortia like the Quantum Technologies Flagship supports cross-border access to facilities and aligns innovation with ethical and regulatory frameworks.
PSI frames quantum research within societal priorities: healthcare improvements (advanced imaging and proton therapy synergies), sustainable energy materials, and responsible commercialization. Ethical considerations include equitable access to facility time, data sharing policies, and attention to dual-use risks of quantum-enabled technologies. PSI emphasizes diversity in recruitment, outreach to underrepresented groups in STEM, and public engagement to demystify quantum science and distribute its benefits more widely. Policy engagement with Swiss federal agencies seeks to align funding with long-term public goods—open infrastructure, robust standards, and workforce development—to ensure quantum advances contribute to social justice and economic resilience.
Category:Research institutes in Switzerland Category:Quantum physics Category:Science and technology in Switzerland