Develops superconducting quantum hardware across materials, devices and control, studying both the interactions that make processors work and the environmental effects that limit their reliability.
arXiv / NaturearXiv / NatureOliver’s research links device engineering with the physics of reliable superconducting qubits. His coauthored work on giant artificial atoms demonstrates ways to control coupling and preserve interactions through a shared waveguide. A separate radiation study identifies an environmental source of quasiparticles that can degrade coherence, showing why processor design must include its surroundings. Together these contributions address useful interactions and unwanted disturbances. His MIT leadership connects that research with the broader engineering required to build quantum systems.
MIT Department of PhysicsarXiv / NaturearXiv / NatureDefining contributions
Work, in context- 2020
Controlling giant artificial atoms
Coauthored a demonstration coupling superconducting qubits to a waveguide at several separated points, enabling tunable coupling and interactions that remain protected from waveguide-induced decay.
Coauthor of the giant-artificial-atom waveguide experiment; shared experimental credit.
Source-supported recordarXiv / Nature - 2020
Tracing radiation-induced decoherence
Coauthored evidence that environmental ionizing radiation generates quasiparticles affecting superconducting qubits, and demonstrated a correlation between radiation shielding and improved coherence.
Coauthor of the radiation and coherence study; shared experimental credit.
Source-supported recordarXiv / Nature
Follow the evidence
3 sourcesPrimary papers, institutional records and attributed announcements. Each source supports the claims linked above.
- MIT Department of PhysicsInstitutional profile
William Oliver
Identity, professional identification and contribution context
Checked 2026-09-19 - arXiv / NatureResearch paper
Waveguide Quantum Electrodynamics with Giant Superconducting Artificial Atoms
Coauthorship and waveguide experiment; journal publication 2020
Published 2019-12-27 · Checked 2026-09-19 - arXiv / NatureResearch paper
Impact of ionizing radiation on superconducting qubit coherence
Coauthorship, radiation mechanism and shielding experiment
Published 2020-01-24 · Checked 2026-09-19