Optimized auxiliary electronics system for Quantum Computing (QC) research

Project Information

QCAux

Grant agreement ID: 868058

DOI

10.3030/868058

Project closed

EC signature date 26 April 2019

Start date 1 April 2019

End date 30 September 2019

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

QDEVIL APS
Denmark

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - QCAux (Optimized auxiliary electronics system for Quantum Computing (QC) research)

Reporting period: 2019-04-01 to 2019-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Quantum computers (QCs) use the quantum states of subatomic particles embedded in the architecture of a processor to perform complex mathematical operations that classical computers cannot do. QCs use qubits as their basic unit of information. The challenge for QC is getting enough qubits into superposition and sustaining them there for long enough to perform meaningful computations. Qubits are very sensitive to any external interference. Qubits must be physically connected to the outside world by signal channels to electronic instruments that measure their behaviour. Signal channels cause interference which disrupts qubit quantum states and stops any computational processes.
The beneficiary of this Phase I proposal (‘QDV’) manufactures auxiliary electronics (‘QCAux’) which link quantum processors to the external operator. QDV has a beta version of QCAux used by QC R&D enterprises and institutions, with positive results and with important constructive feedback as to how QCAux can be improved. End users want standardised equipment with greater practical functionality that allows users to upscale their R&D by testing more qubits in each experiment, but without the extra signal channels that cause signal interference.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The Feasibility Study investigated the QC R&D auxiliary electronics market: its size, growth trends 2018-2025, the type of end users, competitor enterprises and their technology, and how their technology compares to QCAux. The Feasibility Study examined the modifications that QDV can make to QCAux to better align it with end user feedback: how to add experimental capacity to QCAux without adding noise to the experiment. This was turned into tasks which would be the basis of future QCAux technology maturation. The Feasibility Study also looked at how QCAux can be commercialised, the third parties needed to reach market, and the economic returns for QDV.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The Feasibility Study confirmed that QDV and QCAux enjoy a major technical advantage over competitors. We operate in a market that will grow at >30% per year from now to 2025. We can add practical value and experimental capacity to QCAux with incremental design changes to each device in the QCAux system, which will have the sum effect of increasing the test capacity and practical value of QCAux in a QC R&D setting.

QCAUX RF/RC filters connected inside a dilution refrigerator