Quantum computers based on superconducting circuits lose their quantum properties on short timescales limiting the potential of their applications. The presence of microscopic and non-optimal circuit design are major sources of noise leading to low fidelity operations and limiting the number of operations that superconducting circuit quantum computers can perform. The goal of this project is to use quantum magnetometry for investigate sources of noise in superconducting circuits for the ultimate goal of optimizing qubit fabrication for scaling up quantum computers. Qubits for diagnostics will be directly provided via our industrial and academic partners at QuantWare and the University of Glasgow respectively.
The quantum sensor
The project makes use of an already established quantum sensor based on nitrogen vacancy spins in diamond with leading results of imaging spins and charges in quantum materials and devices, for example for quantifying the magnetic field of atomically thin magnets and for current mapping of integrated circuits. The NV spin is an atomic sized quantum sensor permitting quantitative mapping of magnetic fields with high sensitivity and ~20nm spatial resolution. It is operatable over a wide temperature and frequency detection range.
Facilities
This is a cutting-edge project making use of our newly developed state-of-the art “Quantum Magnetometry” facility which hosts a turn-key low temperature scanning nitrogen vacancy (NV) magnetometer (first of its kind globally and co-developed by QZabre Ltd.) and a mK-dilution fridge for widefield NV sensing. You will have access to our other world class facilities including cryostats, tunable lasers, single photon detectors and radio-frequency equipment for spin manipulation. Additionally, you will have access to a newly refurbished nano-fabrication facility.
The industrial sponsor
QZabre Ltd. is an ETH Zurich SpinOff focused on commercializing diamond technology based on NV centres for applications in quantum sensing. QZabre’s goal is to make quantum sensing with NV centres easy and accessible to the scientific and industrial communities by providing innovative products to perform novel measurements and unique analysis. Their product line currently includes diamond tips with single or multiple NV centres, diamond membranes with and without pillar arrays, a turnkey scanning NV magnetometer and a quantum confocal microscope for colour centres in diamond. With more than 60 customers worldwide, QZabre Ltd. counts 13 employees with diverse backgrounds and expertise covering – among others – physics, nanofabrication and software engineering