Scalable fabrication process for quantum-circuit refrigerators

Quantum computers are emerging as disruptive computational devices.

A significant obstacle in scaling up quantum computers is the fact that they exhibit very low tolerance against external perturbations.

This means that the quantum processors need to be extremely well isolated from all sources of dissipation during their quantum coherent operation.

This generates an increased steady-state temperature and triggers long natural initialization times, i.e., long reset time for the quantum memory.

Thus, there is currently a significant unmet need for versatile active refrigeration for quantum devices, which would open up significant business opportunities in many solid-state implementations of quantum technology.

This project, Scalable fabrication process for quantum-circuit refrigerators (SCAR), will generate a scalable, standardized process for the manufacturing of quantum-circuit refrigerators (QCRs) as a stand-alone component for cooling the operational quantum degrees of freedom in different types of under-damped quantum electric devices, enhancing their performance.

For instance, it provides and efficient way to initialize quantum bits in superconducting quantum computers.

SCAR has several objectives that will allow us to build an extensive business case for the subsequent commercial exploitation of our technology.

From a technical perspective, we aim to advance our technology from the current Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 3 to 5, by fabricating junctions with new materials and improved processes and generating a best practice guide for junction characterization and fabrication. From an IP perspective, we aim to generate new IP focused on new materials and new fabrication processes.

From a business perspective, our objective is to build a convincing business case for the exploitation of SCAR based on a market analysis (including competitors, trends, values, and roadmaps) consolidated in a business and exploitation plan.