Revolutionizing Quantum Computing with Innovative Cooling Technology
Quantum computations rely on the manipulation of quantum bits (qubits) that must be cooled to extremely low temperatures in the millikelvin range to minimize atomic motion and reduce noise. However, the challenge lies in managing quantum circuits with electronics, as the generation of heat at such low temperatures is difficult to dissipate effectively.
Traditionally, quantum circuits have been separated from their electronic components to address this issue, leading to inefficiencies and noise that hinder the scalability of quantum systems beyond laboratory settings.
Breakthrough in Quantum Technology
A groundbreaking development has emerged from the Laboratory of Nanoscale Electronics and Structures (LANES) at EPFL, led by Andras Kis in the School of Engineering. The team of researchers has successfully created a device that operates at ultra-low temperatures with efficiency comparable to current technologies at room temperature.
PhD student Gabriele Pasquale from LANES emphasizes the significance of this achievement, stating, “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 innovative device combines the exceptional electrical conductivity of graphene with the semiconductor properties of indium selenide, creating a structure that is only a few atoms thick and behaves as a two-dimensional object. This unique combination of materials and design delivers unparalleled performance.
Utilizing the Nernst effect, a complex thermoelectric phenomenon that produces an electrical voltage when a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to an object experiencing varying temperatures, the device leverages its two-dimensional quality to enhance the efficiency of this mechanism through electrical means.
The revolutionary 2D structure, developed at the EPFL Center for MicroNanoTechnology and the LANES lab, has made a breakthrough in quantum technology. By utilizing a laser as a heat source and a specialized dilution refrigerator reaching temperatures as low as 100 millikelvin, colder than outer space, the device overcomes the challenge of converting heat to voltage at such low temperatures, thanks to its innovative utilization of the Nernst effect. This achievement fills a crucial gap in quantum technology.
Pasquale explains, “If you think of a laptop in a cold office, the laptop will still heat up as it operates, causing the temperature of the room to increase as well. In quantum computing systems, there is currently no mechanism to prevent this heat from disturbing the qubits. Our device could provide this necessary cooling.”
With a background in physics, Pasquale underscores the importance of this research in exploring the phenomenon of thermopower conversion at low temperatures. The high conversion efficiency and potential integration of manufacturable electronic components make the LANES team confident that their device could seamlessly enhance existing low-temperature quantum circuits.
Pasquale concludes, “These findings represent a major advancement in nanotechnology and hold promise for developing advanced cooling technologies essential for quantum computing at millikelvin temperatures. We believe this achievement could revolutionize cooling systems for future technologies.”
Journal Reference
- Pasquale, G., Sun, Z., Migliato Marega, G. et al. Electrically tunable giant Nernst effect in two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures. Nature Nanotechnology, 2024; DOI: 10.1038/s41565-024-01717-y
