Dr. Priya Sharma will explore a novel approach to quantum computing after receiving £1.3 million as part of a combined £2.7 million UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, alongside Dr. Sacha Beniamine, to develop a qubit based on superfluid helium-3. Building on her recently published conceptual design for the Superfluid Helium Oscillator Quantum (SHOQ) device, the first reported design of its kind, Sharma’s research aims to address electromagnetic noise that limits current superconducting qubits.
“This Fellowship gives me the opportunity to take an idea that grew from bringing together two very different areas of physics and explore its potential as a new platform for quantum technology,” says Sharma, a Research Fellow in Hybrid Quantum Systems, with long-term plans to secure patents and attract investment for a quantum hardware start-up. She joined Surrey as a Daphne Jackson Fellow in 2023 and has since been named Researcher of the Year in the School of Mathematics and Physics in 2024 and received the University’s Vice-Chancellor’s Career Returner Award in 2025.
Superfluid Helium SHOQ Device Advances Quantum Computing
The first reported design for a qubit utilizing superfluid helium-3 is now receiving £1.3 million in funding, shared with Dr. Sacha Beniamine who also received £1.4 million, to move beyond conceptualization. This novel approach aims to circumvent limitations currently hindering the scalability of quantum computers, specifically the susceptibility of superconducting qubits to electromagnetic interference. Unlike conventional qubits, the SHOQ device uses charge-neutral superfluid helium-3, a state of matter potentially offering inherent resilience to this disruptive noise.
Dr. Sharma’s work builds on a design published earlier, focusing on harnessing the unique properties of this exotic material to develop a qubit based on the SHOQ device. The fellowship will allow for detailed exploration of the SHOQ technology’s potential, moving from theoretical models to physical prototypes and experimental validation of its performance characteristics.
This includes investigating methods to precisely control and measure the quantum state of the helium-3, a critical step towards building a functional quantum bit. Sharma explained that the potential advantages of a superfluid-based qubit extend beyond noise reduction; the material’s properties may also allow for more efficient qubit coupling and communication, essential for building larger and more complex quantum processors.
Current superconducting qubits rely on intricate fabrication techniques and materials prone to imperfections leading to decoherence, the loss of quantum information. By utilizing a naturally occurring, charge-neutral fluid, the SHOQ device could simplify manufacturing processes and improve qubit coherence times.
Beyond the immediate research goals, the fellowship includes a clear pathway toward commercialization. This ambition reflects a growing trend within the quantum computing field, where researchers are increasingly focused on translating fundamental discoveries into tangible products and applications. The long-term vision is to establish a UK-based company capable of designing, building, and selling SHOQ-based quantum processors to researchers and industry partners. The development of the SHOQ device is not occurring in isolation; it represents a broader effort to diversify qubit technologies and overcome the limitations of existing approaches.
While superconducting qubits currently dominate the landscape, alternative platforms such as trapped ions, photonic qubits, and topological qubits are also under active investigation. Each technology presents its own set of challenges and opportunities, and a diverse portfolio of qubit types may ultimately be necessary to realize the full potential of quantum computing.
Professor Lisa Collins, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation at the University of Surrey, highlighted the significance of this dual success, stating, “Their success reflects what we are striving to build here at Surrey: a research culture where talented people with bold ideas are supported to grow, take their work in new directions and turn their ambitions into meaningful impact.” Dr. Sharma’s previous advocacy for greater diversity and inclusion within the quantum community also informs her approach to this research, emphasizing the importance of creating accessible career pathways into the field. She believes that a more inclusive and collaborative environment will foster innovation and accelerate the development of quantum technologies. The combination of research, a clear commercialization strategy, and a commitment to diversity positions Dr. Sharma and the SHOQ device as a promising development in the ongoing quest for practical quantum computation.
This Fellowship gives me the opportunity to take an idea that grew from bringing together two very different areas of physics and explore its potential as a new platform for quantum technology Dr Priya Sharma, Research Fellow in Hybrid Quantum Systems.
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