Quantum Processor Advancement: 2D Cooling Breakthrough

Researchers in Switzerland have made a significant breakthrough in the field of quantum computing by developing a cutting-edge device that efficiently converts heat into electrical voltage at ultra-low temperatures. This innovative technology, known as the 2D quantum cooling system, has been created at EPFL and could potentially revolutionize the way quantum processors operate.

The main challenge in advancing quantum computing technologies lies in the requirement for extremely low temperatures. The quantum cooler developed at the EPFL Laboratory of Nanoscale Electronics and Structures (LANES) offers a solution to this obstacle. Led by Andras Kis, the team combined a 2D graphene layer with indium selenide to harness the Nernst effect, a complex thermoelectric phenomenon that generates electrical voltage when a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to an object with varying temperature.

Experiments conducted by the researchers involved using a laser as a heat source and a specialized dilution refrigerator to reach temperatures as low as 100 millikelvin. The results were promising, showing an impressive on/off ratio of 103 and revealing a strong photo-Nernst signal in the graphene/indium selenide heterostructure. The device achieved a record-high Nernst coefficient of 66.4 μV/K/T at ultralow temperatures and low magnetic fields.

According to LANES PhD student Gabriele Pasquale, “We are the first to create a device that matches the conversion efficiency of current technologies, but that operates at the low magnetic fields and ultra-low temperatures required for quantum systems. This work is truly a step ahead.” The device could potentially address the issue of heat disturbance in quantum computing systems, providing the necessary cooling to prevent interference with qubits.

The LANES team is optimistic about the future applications of their quantum cooling technology. With its high conversion efficiency and the use of potentially manufacturable electronic components, the device could be seamlessly integrated into existing low-temperature quantum circuits. Pasquale believes that this achievement represents a major advancement in nanotechnology and holds promise for developing advanced cooling technologies essential for quantum computing at millikelvin temperatures, potentially revolutionizing cooling systems for future technologies.