The European Union is taking a significant step towards developing cryogenic classical and quantum microsystems. IMEC is leading the charge through its Chips Joint Undertaking project, ARCTIC. This ambitious initiative aims to establish a comprehensive European supply chain for cryogenic photonics, microelectronics, and cryo-microsystems. It caters to the emerging quantum computing industry and various cryo-enabled ICT applications.
Alexander Grill, scientific leader of ARCTIC at IMEC, emphasizes that electronic devices and circuits must be optimized for cryogenic temperatures. This is crucial when interfacing with sensitive applications like quantum processors. The project brings together 36 partners from 11 countries. These include industry leaders, academia, and research institutions. They aim to overcome the constraints of scaling up quantum computers. One key focus area is the development of novel components. These include traveling-wave parametric amplifiers (TWPA).
TWPAs are a critical component in superconducting quantum computers used for readout measurement. Dr. Jean-Loup Ville, Senior Quantum Physicist at Alice & Bob, expects new quantum-specific TWPA designs to significantly reduce hardware overhead. He believes this will accelerate the development of full-scale quantum computers.
Cryogenic Microsystems: A Giant Leap towards Quantum Computing
The ARCTIC project, led by IMEC, is a significant step forward in the development of cryogenic microsystems, which are essential components for controlling and interfacing scaled-up quantum computers. This joint EU undertaking aims to establish a comprehensive European supply chain for cryogenic photonics, microelectronics, and cryo-microsystems around the emerging quantum computing industry.
The project’s primary objective is to overcome the limitations of current electronic devices and circuits at cryogenic temperatures. According to Alexander Grill, scientific leader of ARCTIC at IMEC, “the performance requirements asked from electronic devices and circuits at cryogenic temperatures are quite different compared to those at room temperature.” This is particularly crucial when interfacing sensitive applications such as quantum processors, where all aspects of microelectronic technologies need to be optimized.
To achieve this goal, the ARCTIC project brings together 36 partners from 11 countries, including industry leaders, academia, and leading research and technology organizations (RTOs). The consortium will focus on developing materials and fabrication processes, novel simulation approaches, heterogeneous packaging, and optimizing devices and circuits specifically designed for cryogenic operation. This comprehensive approach ensures a smooth interfacing between respective layers, from technology developers to end-users.
Overcoming the Constraints of Cryogenic Quantum Computing
One of the significant challenges in scaling up quantum computers is the limited number of signal lines that can be fed into the cryostat. This limitation arises from the restricted space, heat transported through the wires, and signal integrity issues due to long wires. To overcome these constraints, the ARCTIC project will develop novel solutions for cryogenic microsystems.
For instance, the project will test new designs of traveling-wave parametric amplifiers (TWPA), a critical component in superconducting quantum computers used for readout measurement. The new quantum-specific TWPAs are expected to reduce internal losses and improve measurement efficiency, significantly reducing hardware overhead and making compact, economical devices possible.
Establishing a Comprehensive European Supply Chain
The ARCTIC project’s ambition is to establish a complete and comprehensive European supply chain for cryogenic photonics, microelectronics, and cryo-microsystems. This includes the development of materials and fabrication processes, novel simulation approaches, heterogeneous packaging, and optimizing devices and circuits specifically designed for cryogenic operation.
To achieve this goal, the consortium will leverage the unique R&D ecosystem in Europe, with RTOs collaborating and forming a bridge between academic innovation models and industrial valorization. This approach ensures that the project’s outcomes are tailored to meet the needs of industry leaders, SMEs, and large industrial companies.
Enabling Highly Demanded Technologies
The expected project outcomes are considered essential enablers for highly demanded technologies that can resolve existing problems in areas such as computational chemistry, bio and life sciences, cryptography needed for data protection and cyber security. By developing cryogenic microsystems that can efficiently control and interface scaled-up quantum computers, the ARCTIC project is poised to make a significant impact on various fields.
The project’s focus on cryogenic photonics, microelectronics, and cryo-microsystems will enable the development of compact, cost-effective devices that can accelerate the development of full-scale quantum computers. This, in turn, will have far-reaching implications for various industries and applications, from computational chemistry to cyber security.
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