New quantum computers can operate at higher temperatures

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Quantum computing’s deep freeze is beginning to thaw.

Computers that harness quantum physics could trump standard computers on certain types of calculations. But the machines typically work only at temperatures tiny fractions of a degree above absolute zero. Now, two teams of physicists report that they’ve created silicon-based quantum computers that work under warmer conditions.

The devices operate more than a degree above absolute zero, the scientists report in two papers published in the April 16 Nature. Although still chilly, that temperature is much easier to achieve than the approximately 10 millikelvin (0.01 degrees above absolute zero) temperatures typical of a popular type of quantum computer based on superconductors, materials which transmit electricity without resistance.

Current quantum computers top out at around 50 quantum bits, but scientists expect quantum computers will need millions of these qubits to perform some tasks. So scientists are working to scale them up.

Simplifying the cooling process could help the computers grow. That’s because extremely cold quantum computers have an additional complication. The electronic components required to control the qubits don’t work under such chilly conditions, and need to be kept in a warmer location and connected to the quantum chip with wiring. That wiring would become unreasonably complex as quantum computers scale up.  But with quantum computers that operate at these warmer temperatures, the qubits and electronics could be joined together, akin to the integrated circuits that helped make conventional computers increasingly powerful and ubiquitous.

Created by teams including researchers from the University of New South Wales in Australia and QuTech in Delft, the Netherlands, the warmer quantum computers are made with silicon. That material is used in standard computer chips, so manufacturers are already skilled with it (SN: 2/14/18). That could also speed quantum computers’ scale-up.

Home of Science
Follow me

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Six Nations 2023: Damian Penaud, Duhan van der Merwe and James Lowe in best trieson March 20, 2023 at 9:14 am

Watch the best tries from this year's Six Nations tournament, including superb scores from France's Damian Penaud, Scotland's Duhan van der Merwe and Ireland's...

Strictly Come Dancing: Actress Cynthia Erivo to fill in as judgeon November 19, 2021 at 11:12 am

Oscar-nominated Cynthia Erivo will replace Craig Revel-Horwood this weekend after he caught Covid.

Over 340 first responders have died from 9/11 illnesseson September 25, 2023 at 8:21 pm

As many have now died from complications as died in the attacks, the Fire Department of New York says.This video can not be playedTo...

Citizen scientists join fight to clean up riverson December 31, 2022 at 12:51 am

The past year has seen public outrage over sewage with volunteers taking action into their own hands.The past year has seen public outrage over...

The fake sex chats fuelled by an elaborate scamon September 21, 2022 at 11:06 pm

The erotic messages supposedly sent from women on some adult websites are often actually from men.The erotic messages supposedly sent from women on some...
Home of Science
Follow me