Project description
Higher-frequency superconducting qubits pave the way to smaller quantum computers
Qubits form the elementary computing units for operating a quantum computer. In the EU-funded Milli-Q project, researchers aim to develop a new generation of more stable and energy-efficient superconducting qubits. To truly leverage their potential, the operating frequency of the qubits will be increased from today’s average of 10 GHz to 100 GHz. To operate in higher frequencies, the size of quantum circuit components will be reduced. Furthermore, the new quantum processors should be able to operate at significantly higher temperatures than before, thereby reducing the high infrastructure and energy costs associated with cooling.
Objective
I propose an experimental program to investigate quantum-coherent properties of superconducting circuits at frequencies one order of magnitude larger than those demonstrated until now. My idea is to develop a new generation of superconducting qubits with significantly increased energy level separation between their ground and the first excited states. Pushing the operation frequency of superconducting qubits up offers a number of potential technological advantages. Due to the increased level separation, such novel millimetre-wave quantum processors could be operated at much higher temperatures than their present counterparts. Even at millikelvin temperatures, the higher qubit resonance frequency will offer better protection from non-thermal noise. Furthermore, qubit logic gates can be performed faster at higher frequencies. Quantum circuit components can be reduced in size due to smaller wavelength at higher frequencies, thus allowing for a smaller footprint, denser packaging and better integration. These numerous potential advantages face nevertheless a number of challenges and pose open questions that will be addressed and are aimed to be answered in the proposed project. The goal is to develop prototype qubits for the 100 GHz frequency range and to demonstrate their manipulation and quantum state tomography. This challenging project will unearth fundamental knowledge about decoherence in this yet unexplored frequency range. We will study dielectric loss and other decoherence sources as functions of frequency and temperature. Once successful, this approach will open a new way of building a superconducting quantum computer.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2021-ADG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
76131 Karlsruhe
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.