IMEC Heads EU Quantum Cryogenic Systems Project

The ARCTIC (“Advanced Research on Cryogenic Technologies for Innovative Computing”) project is paving the way for a complete and comprehensive European supply chain focused on cryogenic photonics, microelectronics, and cryo-microsystems. This initiative is crucial for supporting the emerging quantum computing industry and various cryo-enabled ICT applications. According to Alexander Grill, the scientific leader of ARCTIC at IMEC, the performance requirements for electronic devices and circuits at cryogenic temperatures differ significantly from those at room temperature, especially when dealing with sensitive applications like quantum processors.

Quantum computers, to be practical in real-world scenarios, would need thousands to millions of physical qubits. Managing such a large number of qubits requires a substantial amount of control and interfacing machinery to operate efficiently. Typically, this machinery operates at room temperature, while the qubits themselves are maintained close to absolute zero Kelvin temperatures inside a cryostat. However, scaling up the number of qubits poses challenges such as limited signal lines into the cryostat due to space constraints, heat transfer through wires, and signal integrity issues arising from long wires.

With a collaborative effort involving 36 partners from 11 countries across industry, academia, and leading RTOs, ARCTIC aims to establish a robust European supply chain for cryogenic technologies. This includes the development of materials, fabrication processes, simulation techniques, packaging solutions, and the optimization of devices and circuits tailored for cryogenic operation. The project focuses on bridging the gap between technology developers, integrators, modelers, designers, and end-users to ensure seamless interfacing across different layers.

One of the key milestones of the ARCTIC project involves testing new designs of traveling-wave parametric amplifiers (TWPA), essential components in superconducting quantum computers for readout measurements. By evaluating the performance of these quantum-specific TWPAs against commercially available ones in cryostats, the project aims to reduce internal losses in TWPAs to enhance measurement efficiency. Dr. Jean-Loup Ville, Senior Quantum Physicist at Alice & Bob, anticipates that these new designs could significantly minimize hardware overhead, making quantum computers more compact, cost-effective, and accelerating the development of full-scale quantum computers.

The anticipated outcomes of the ARCTIC project are seen as crucial enablers for highly sought-after technologies that can address existing challenges in computational chemistry, bio and life sciences, cryptography for data protection, and cybersecurity. By leveraging the unique R&D ecosystem in Europe and fostering collaboration between RTOs, academia, and industry players, ARCTIC is poised to drive innovation and advancements in cryogenic technologies for the benefit of various sectors.