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Gate Tuneable Superconducting Quantum Electronics.

Project description

DEENESFRITPL

A new approach to superconducting logic gates could usher in a new age of supercomputing

Calculators were a major improvement over pencil and paper, but computers truly revolutionised our ability to do calculations, exponentially increasing the number and complexity of computations possible in a fraction of the time. Supercomputers relying on superconducting quantum logic gates have extended those possibilities. They are increasingly invaluable to numerous fields but are facing challenges in terms of enhancing performance while reducing energy consumption. The EU-funded SuperGate project will develop a new approach to superconducting logics that will enable the same or better performance while minimising current problems, ushering in the next evolution of supercomputers.

Objective

Supercomputers are playing an increasingly important role for our society by performing calculations with a variety of implications ranging from weather forecasting to genetic material sequencing to testing of drugs for new diseases. Enhancing the performance of modern supercomputers, whilst minimising their energy losses, represent two contrasting but major needs that the information technology industry will have to address in the future.
The best solution proposed to date to reduce the energy costs of supercomputers without affecting their performance is based on hybrid computing architectures, where a semiconductor part based on complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology and used for memory operations is combined at low temperatures with logic circuitry offering minimal energy losses thanks to the usage of superconductor (S) materials. Existing superconducting logics, which relies on rapid single flux quantum (RSFQ) technology, however, it is difficult to interface with CMOS and to scale up and it is sensitive to magnetic perturbations – which are the main reasons why hybrid platforms have not replaced CMOS systems despite their advantages.
Starting from our recent discovery that the logic state in some S devices can be controlled via the field effect (FE), in this project we propose to develop a new technology for superconducting logics that can offer performance at least comparable to that of RSFQ logics whilst overcoming all its drawbacks. We will adopt a systematic approach aiming at (i) understanding of the FE in a S, (ii) determining the S materials and device geometry with optimised performance, (iii) testing the dynamic response of optimised devices, (iv) developing logic circuits based on such devices and (v) testing a logic circuit in conjunction with a CMOS electro-optical modulator. We will also establish technology transfer and pave the way for the commercialisation of our technology, which can revolutionise the world of supercomputer.

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Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2020

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Sub call

H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2019-2020-01

Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

UNIVERSITAT KONSTANZ
Net EU contribution
€ 939 000,00
Address
UNIVERSITATSSTRASSE 10
78464 Konstanz
Germany

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Region
Baden-Württemberg Freiburg Konstanz
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost
€ 939 000,00

Participants (6)

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Last update: 2 April 2024

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/964398

European Union, 2024