SemiQon
A company leading the way in the development of scalable quantum computing technology, SemiQon, has reported making great strides towards resolving basic issues with scaling quantum systems. Building on its earlier success of launching the first cryogenically optimized CMOS transistor in late 2024, SemiQon has now shown that their ultra-low-power cryogenic CMOS technology can be used to characterize quantum dot qubits on a massive scale. This is a significant step that will usher in the age of large-scale quantum integrated circuits for SemiQon.
When SemiQon debuted its cryogenic CMOS transistor the groundwork for this most recent advancement was established. This transistor exhibited record-low switching efficiency, which is said to be essential for quantum processor control and readout. The groundbreaking effect of this early technology on cooling power was emphasised by Janne Lehtinen, Chief Science Officer at SemiQon, who claimed that their cryo-CMOS can cut power usage by a factor of 100. Lehtinen pointed out that many first believed that such a large power reduction might not be feasible. An important accomplishment that showed the technology’s potential at the component level was the cryo-CMOS transistor.
In order to enable true scalability, the latest milestone marks a crucial shift from proving the technology in individual components to reproducing this capacity for thousands. SemiQon‘s integrated circuits, which can handle hundreds of qubit devices concurrently in a single cooling cycle, represent a significant advancement in scalability.
Combining tightly packed silicon qubits with an integrated on-chip readout solution on the same silicon piece is the primary goal driving SemiQon’s technological development. The goal of this calculated move is to move the control circuitry straight onto the quantum chip and within the cryostat. This can significantly minimise the requirement for bulky room-temperature electronics and numerous wires, which are currently a major bottleneck and a major limitation for scaling up quantum systems.
One important and noteworthy feature of this recent technical demonstration is the usage of FDSOI silicon-28 substrates for the first time. Although this material is considered scarce, it is necessary to achieve high quality qubits. Crucially, SemiQon has made use of this particular substrate for both the qubits and their interface circuitry. The business stresses the importance of this integrated material approach to the advancement of quantum technologies. SemiQon notes that the industry standard has frequently depended on metrics obtained from a single “hero device,” which is inadequate for fully comprehending performance at scale. Rather, to accurately describe and comprehend the qubits and their performance as systems get bigger, extensive statistical datasets are needed.
The strategic concept of SemiQon places scalability at its centre. The company’s objective goes beyond a one-time show. They are committed to developing technology that is especially designed for the “million-qubit era” of quantum computing that is predicted. SemiQon claims that it has now successfully shown the efficient interface technology needed to achieve this future scale.
According to Janne Lehtinen, the creation and application of cryo-compatible packaging for these cutting-edge semiconductors is the next phase in their technological roadmap. Additionally, SemiQon is currently going through validation procedures for the chips that it has proven in its own labs. The company’s research partners and early clients are hosting this validation, which is an essential step in verifying the technology’s functionality and dependability in real-world settings.
A major step towards resolving the interconnect and power issues that presently restrict the size and complexity of quantum processors is SemiQon’s ability to carry out large-scale characterization using its power-efficient cryo-CMOS integrated circuits on the same FDSOI silicon-28 substrate as the qubits. The potential scaling needed to construct workable, large-scale quantum computers is facilitated by this research.
In conclusion
Silicon-28 quantum dot qubits combined with control electronics on a single chip have been successfully characterized on a large scale by SemiQon. This accomplishment reduces room-temperature and cabling components, which are essential for scaling to million-qubit quantum devices. SemiQon lowers the complexity and expense of quantum computer infrastructure by directly integrating control circuits with the qubits, opening the door for more scalable and effective quantum processors.
