ARQUE Systems is developing a scalable architecture for semiconductor-based quantum computers. The spin-off from Forschungszentrum Jülich and RWTH Aachen University is tackling one of the key challenges of quantum computing: achieving significantly larger numbers of qubits. The first system is being built in Jülich.
For many practical applications, quantum computers with thousands to millions of qubits would be desirable. ARQUE Systems is therefore relying on proven methods from the semiconductor industry. The underlying principle was developed in close collaboration between Forschungszentrum Jülich and RWTH Aachen University.
The approach is based on spin qubits. These are, in principle, very small, robust against disturbances, and can potentially be integrated in large numbers on a single chip. A key challenge is the so-called entanglement of the qubits. For this, the qubits must normally be very close together, which is hardly feasible spatially when dealing with large numbers of qubits.
On the ARQUE Systems chip, the qubits can be moved using a patented method. The electrons, which serve as the information carriers of the qubits, can be moved along so-called shuttling paths over tens of thousands of nanometers without losing their sensitive quantum states. This makes it possible to entangle qubits that are spatially separated.
This also opens up initial opportunities for industry. Once the testing phase is complete, an initial system with 5 qubits is set to go into operation at the Jülich Supercomputing Centre. The JUNIQ quantum computing infrastructure there provides users in science and industry with access to modern quantum computers from various manufacturers.
All key components of the system originate from the region and were developed in North Rhine-Westphalia up to the prototype stage. The first prototypes of the processor chip were manufactured at the Helmholtz Nano Facility at Forschungszentrum Jülich; the current version was developed in collaboration with development partner Infineon.
