Fermilab

Electronics and controls for quantum

Solving quantum systems engineering challenges

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Novel electronics for quantum technology

Designing cryogenic electronics — processors and sensors that can work at temperatures near absolute zero — is a fundamental challenge in the field of quantum computing. For electronics to be compatible with the millions of qubits required beyond current intermediate-scale quantum systems, they must be able to operate at ultracold temperatures. If solved, the development of cryogenic electronics would represent a huge leap forward in quantum computing technologies. Fermilab’s electronics engineers are at the forefront of this avenue of research.

Control and readout for quantum systems

In quantum computing, to perform logic operations with small error probabilities, quantum logic elements may require many physical qubits. The electronics that control qubits must be able to reset the qubits, detect errors and correct them in a timely way. Fermilab experts are designing highly integrated control and readout electronics to be compatible with these large numbers of qubits. One of the main challenges in quantum science is designing an architecture that solves problems of massive interconnection, massive data processing and heat load. Part of the electronics must also be able to operate at 4 kelvins and near absolute zero.