£6.5m to develop ICs for quantum computers

Update: August 6, 2023

This will accelerate the growth of the quantum computing industry by reducing the constrains associated with interconnects thus enabling efficient qubit/system scaling.

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Most quantum computing platforms utilise qubits or components that operate at cryogenic temperatures.

The key challenge for these platforms is the lack of availability of suitable control circuitry capable of operating at the cryogenic temperatures needed to manage qubits operation.

Currently the control circuitry is located remotely from the qubits and connected by expensive and bulky cabling in order to avoid the temperature extremes needed by the qubits. The amount of cabling required for all the qubits presents a fundamental barrier to quantum computer scaling aside from the inherent latency impact.

The obvious solution is to co-locate the control electronics with the qubits in the cryostat but this means that both must be kept at ultra-low temperatures; in some implementations down to near absolute zero.

However, not only is space extremely limited in the cryostat, necessitating the miniaturisation of the control circuity, but the modern semiconductors that make up these chips are only qualified to work down to -40° C.

As the temperature is reduced close to absolute zero, the operating characteristics of the transistors change markedly.

The aim of this project is to essentially understand and model this change in behaviour and then design a portfolio of CryoCMOS IP to enable the creation of custom chips that can interface to the qubits at cryogenic temperatures and support controller functionality.

The consortium consists of the complete ecosystem of companies to provide the core competencies required to rapidly develop this cryo-tolerant IP. This would then be available under license for companies to create their own Cryo-CMOS chips.

The first step is accurately modelling how transistors work at these temperatures. This is being done by SemiWise and the quantum research group at the University of Glasgow. Synopsys uses the data generated to refine its TCAD tools.

A combination of measurements and simulation data will be used by SemiWise to re-centre the foundry PDK for cryogenic temperatures and to enable the cryogenic circuit design.

As memory plays a key role in the electronics, this aspect is handled by sureCore, which is leading the project and whose expertise at keeping chip power consumption low is vital to ensure that waste heat is kept to a minimum so it does not heat the chamber.

Chamber expertise is provided by Oxford Instruments which manufactures cryogenic systems. Lastly, Universal Quantum and SEEQC represent end user needs and will determine what IP blocks the project will need to create for the Cryo-CMOS chips.

Test chips will be characterised at the cryo temperatures to further refine and validate the models and IP.