My research was focused on implementing improvements to silicon quantum dots, namely characterizing the density of charge traps at the silicon/oxide interface and then passivating them with a series of high temperature forming gas anneals. It was found that a forming gas anneal at 400C for 10 minutes was able to reduce the density of interface traps by several orders of magnitude. This reduction would lead to longer coherence times in electron spin qubits and higher fidelity two-qubit gates. Additionally, gate-oxide test structures were fabricated to simulate the overlapping gate geometry of the quantum dots while various oxides are grown and deposited. It is found that oxides, grown by either ashing or hotplate in tandem with atomic layer deposited Al2O3, yield substantially higher breakdown voltages than conventional methods. Finally, I developed a microwave resonator used for global control over a dense array of quantum dots. The resonator possess a unique shape to minimize the electric field componentwhile maximizing the magnetic field ‘felt’ by the qubits. Electrons are tuned on and off of resonance by electrostatic tuning of the electron g-factor. We fabricate and characterize aprototype resonator’s transmission coefficient to determine its resonant frequency at roomtemperature and at 1.4K. Both measurements agree with simulations with a resonancefrequency of approximately 16 GHz. Futhermore, the resonator sits above the quantum dot array, allowing for higher quantum dot packing density and a dramatic reduction in high frequency cables into the dilution refrigerator, as is required by standard single qubit implementations (Transmission lines & EDSR).https://uwspace.uwaterloo.ca/handle/10012/17936

Assisted students understand various concepts in the field of quantum mechanics within the classroom. Also responsible for after class office hours to further help students with any questions as well as mark assignments and exams.

Directed a first-year engineering tutorial. Responsible for explaining conceptual questions students may have, problem solving strategies and grading.

Investigated the relaxation dynamics of the electronic structure of two prototypical topological insulators, bismuth selenide and bismuth antimony telluride sulfide. The experiments were performed in UHV with time and angle resolved photo-emission spectroscopy (trARPES). I also contributed to developing analysis procedures in IgorPro.

Designed and built a high-speed confocal microscope to study the complex dynamics of colloids suspended in fluids. I also performed drop merging experiments with a high-speed camera to observe instabilities in the merging process.

Investigated how the edge states of the topological insulator, HgTe, interacted with one another by performing transport experiments with quantum point contacts (QPC's). Devices were fabricated in a clean room environment and tested at 1.4K

Tutored students in introductory or collegiate level mathematics and physics.