RWTH: Together to the scalable semiconductor quantum computer

Quantum computers hold enormous potential, for example to speed up the search for materials and medical agents or to solve logistics problems. However, an unanswered question is how large amounts of quantum bits, qubits for short, can be realized. Qubits are the basic building block of every quantum computer. For many applications, however, an enormous number of them is required. Semiconductor qubits offer some advantages in this regard. In order to produce them, the usual processes from established semiconductor production can be used.

Quantum chips with semiconductor qubits have recently seen rapid development. The approach has now reached the quality level of other platforms and has proven to be significantly less sensitive to external interference, such as thermal radiation or cosmic particles. For the next challenge, namely the realization of larger, scalable quantum circuits, Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen University and the Leibniz Institute for Innovative Microelectronics (IHP) are already working together in several projects – QUASAR, QLSI, SiGeQuant – to process such quantum bits To bring semiconductor base further towards application. An important joint industrial partner is Infineon Technologies AG, the largest semiconductor manufacturer in Germany.

The agreement that has now been concluded is intended to consolidate this cooperation, including through the establishment of a jointly operated joint lab. The IHP contributes its expertise in the growth of heterostructures and in qubit fabrication based on Ge/SiGe and Si/SiGe compounds. In addition, Forschungszentrum Jülich and RWTH Aachen University have proven expertise in the field of device design, characterization and qubit demonstration within the framework of the joint JARA Institute for Quantum Information.