An engineering team at Qubic Technologies, a spin-out of the Institut Quantique of the Université de Sherbrooke and of the Institute for Quantum Computing of the University of Waterloo, has announced a first-of-its-kind traveling-wave parametric amplifier that is able to function optimally in ultra-cold environments at 4 Kelvin and below. Addressing the amount of power necessary to cool quantum and high-performance computing systems, this quantum amplifier emits nearly zero heat, cutting down on the typical heat emitted by 10,000× and power consumption by 50%. What this means to the quantum industry is a 100% increase in the number of qubits able to function inside a single cryogenic environment.
Why is this important? Typically, quantum computers perform operations in a cryogenic environment and the heat generated by the system’s electronics requires extra cooling. Traditional amplifiers are used in these systems to dissipate heat, which can disrupt the proper functioning of cryogenics used in quantum systems while also limiting how many qubits can run together in a single cryogenic setup.
“The amplifier works by relying on a superconducting quantum material that conducts electricity and signals without resistance, eliminating the generation of heat,” said Jérôme Bourassa, CEO and co-founder of Qubit Technologies. “They enable us to not only create quantum bits and perform logical operations but also to amplify with no heat and with the least amount of noise the laws of nature allow.
“Nonlinear properties of the material allow for the creation of the amplifier and a large response when a small or weak input signal or stimuli is provided,” Bourassa continued. “The amplifier’s circuit is made of a metamaterial, an engineered circuit structure that enables Qubic to select which frequencies are amplified and how.”
As a result, Bourassa said the company can create low-noise amplifiers with a large bandwidth and a lot of flexibility in their operating frequency. “The class of superconducting materials used withstands temperatures as low as or even lower than 4 Kelvin. While this is considered extremely cold, it remains warmer than outer space and hundreds of times hotter than what we typically see in superconducting quantum computers where 0.010 Kelvin is the gold standard. This gives us a lot of flexibility in where we can use and integrate our technology.”
There is no set standard regarding the number of qubits that can run together in a single cryogenic setup, Bourassa said. “It depends on the user, the architecture, and the purpose, and it is common to have academic labs with systems running a couple to a dozen qubits, while large corporations, like IBM or Google, have a little more. IBM is at 156 qubits per fridge.
“However, it is important to note that for these machines to scale to the levels where they will provide quantum advantage to industrial users, thousands of qubits will be required,” he added. “Our cryogenic amplifier becomes important, as it allows large tech firms to scale their hardware to useful levels.”
Bourassa further explained that the amplifier answers pressing issues in computing and sensing applications, such as radar or communications, and detecting weak signals with less noise.
Currently, Qubic’s quantum amplifier is at the prototyping and testing phase, with plans to bring the product to market in 2026.
Margaret Panetta, lead quantum scientist at Qubic, is wiring up an experiment to test the company’s quantum amplifier inside a dilution refrigerator at temperatures of –273°C, at approximately absolute zero. (Source: Qubic Technologies)
Qubic also announced a $925,000 (CAD) grant from the Government of Canada through its department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and the FABrIC program, administered by the Canadian Microelectronics Corporation. The funding will support a $2.5 million project to develop cryogenic amplifiers made from quantum materials, which will help to overcome thermal barriers. The timing of the FABrIC grant is happening simultaneously to Qubic’s discussions for a pre-seed investment round, which will be used for scaling and commercialization of its quantum technologies.
In addition to the grant, the project involves collaboration with leading academic institutions such as the University of Waterloo, the Institute for Quantum Computing, and the Quantum Nanofabrication and Characterization Facility, drawing on their specialized expertise and equipment.
The quantum amplifier project represents the first building block in Qubic’s broader technology roadmap. It has potential applications extending beyond quantum computing to other high-precision, low-noise electronic systems, the company said.
“The next step will be to create innovative sensing technology, such as quantum-enhanced receivers, to enable quantum-level precision in the detection of signals for remote sensing applications,” Bourassa said. “This will lead to commercializing a quantum-enhanced radar offering benefits such as greater precision and a larger detection range.”
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