For many years, the search for quantum computers has been struggling with the need for extremely low temperatures, just a few degrees above zero (0 Kelvin or -273.15°C). That’s because the number of events that give computers their unique computational abilities can be used to separate them from the heat of the familiar world we live in.
A single chip or “qubit”, similar to the “zero or one” bit in the heart of ancient computers, requires a large amount of refrigeration to function. However, in many areas where we expect large numbers of computers to deliver breakthroughs – such as the creation of new devices or medicines – we will need many qubits or complete computers that work in parallel.
Quantum computers that can handle errors and correct themselves, essential for reliable calculations, are expected to become even more powerful. Companies such as Google, IBM and PsiQuantum are planning a future of warehouses filled with cooling systems and high energy consumption to run a single quantum computer.
But if quantum computers can operate at even lower temperatures, they could be easier to operate — and more accessible. In a new study published in Nature, our team has shown that another type of qubit – the spins of individual electrons – can operate at temperatures around 1K, much hotter than previous models.
Cool, hard facts
Cooling systems are less efficient at lower temperatures. To make matters worse, the systems we use today to control qubits are wired networks like the ENIAC and other supercomputers of the 1940s. This mechanism increases the temperature and creates barriers for the qubits to work together.
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The harder we try, the harder the problem becomes. Sometimes a wiring problem is impossible.
After that, the control system must be built into the same hardware as the qubits. However, these integrated electronics use more energy – and lose more heat – than a large mess of wires.
Warm conversion
Our new research may provide a way forward. We have shown that another type of qubit – made of a quantum dot printed with metal electrodes on silicon, using the same technology used to make microchips – can operate at a temperature of about 1K.
This is only one degree above zero, so it is very cold. However, it is much hotter than we first thought. This breakthrough could make refrigerators more efficient and versatile. It can significantly reduce operating costs and energy consumption.
The importance of technological progress is therefore not limited to learning. Its importance is greatest in fields such as chemical design, where quantum computing promises to revolutionize the way we understand and interact with molecules.
Research and development investments in these industries, reaching billions of dollars, show the potential cost savings and benefits from the more accessible quantum computing technology.
Slow roasting
“Hotter” qubits offer new opportunities, but they will also introduce new challenges in error control and control. High temperatures can also mean more measurement errors, which can make it harder for a computer to work.
It is still early days in the development of quantum computers. Quantum computers may one day be as ubiquitous as today’s silicon chips, but the road to that future will be fraught with technical challenges.
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Our recent advances in using qubits at high temperatures are an important step toward simplifying system requirements.
It gives hope that quantum computing can move from private labs to more scientific, industrial and commercial environments.
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