Closer to real-world impact for quantum computing
The road to real-world applications for quantum computing narrows.
Quantum computing has taken a significant step forward thanks to a breakthrough in qubit control at temperatures close to absolute zero.
Researchers at the University of Sydney have demonstrated that quantum bits, or qubits, can now be stably controlled using conventional chip technology, clearing one of the biggest hurdles to scalable quantum processing.
Unlike standard digital bits, Qubits rely on the fragile principles of quantum mechanics and must be maintained at extremely low temperatures to function correctly.
The new approach uses complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology—already typical in the computing industry—to create transistors capable of managing qubits without generating disruptive heat or noise.
The team, led by Professor David Reilly, found that integrating control electronics directly onto the chip caused negligible interference.
Their results showed no loss in fidelity or coherence across single and two-qubit operations. ‘We have now demonstrated a scalable control platform that can be integrated with qubits without destroying the fragile quantum states,’ said Reilly.
With this design, quantum processors can scale to millions of qubits—the threshold where their immense processing power could finally be applied to real-world problems.
The breakthrough marks a transition from quantum computing as an experimental field to a technology on the brink of meaningful societal impact.
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