Scalable Quantum Computing Group

Researchers in the Scalable Quantum Computing Group exploit the macroscopic quantum behavior of superconductivity to develop cryogenic superconductive circuits and demonstrate precision measurements to assist US industry for applications in quantum computing, wireless communications, and high-speed, energy-efficient computing. The FQE team has built the infrastructure to design, simulate, fabricate (using the NIST BMF cleanroom), and test these microwave and millimeter-wave superconductive circuits all with a short cycle time, enabling rapid progress. These cryogenic circuits operate at 4 K (-269 °C) or lower temperatures and are designed to operate at very high speeds (clock rates up to hundreds of GHz) and dissipate very little power while performing functions inaccessible by semiconductor electronics.

Links to Flux Quantum Electronics Projects:

1. Superconductive Circuits for Cryogenic Quantum Computing: Superconductive single-flux-quantum (SFQ) microwave circuits for the control and readout of quantum bits to enable fault-tolerant cryogenic quantum computers. This work is supported by the 2018 National Quantum Initiative Act.
2. RF calibrations for Quantum Computing: Superconductive quantum circuits, superconductive calibration standards, and MEMS-based cryogenic microwave switch networks to assist US companies engaged in cryogenic quantum computing R&D. This work is funded in-part by the National Quantum Initiative; the microwave switch project is in collaboration¹ with Google and Menlo Micro and funded in-part by the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C).
3. Hot Qubits: Superconductive millimeter-wave circuits, qubits, and measurement systems for enabling quantum computing at higher temperatures (up to 1 K) using “hot qubits.” This work was initiated in 2022 to support the US industry in developing cheaper, cryogenic quantum computer systems with smaller physical size; funding is through NIST’s Innovations in Measurement Science program.
4. Superconductive Advanced Computing: Development of superconductive devices, materials, fabrication processes, and cryogenic electrical measurements to support energy-efficient, high-speed, superconductive digital computing through the Department of Defense FSDL program.
5. RF Reference Sources for Wireless Communications: Quantum-based arbitrary waveform reference sources in the microwave- and millimeter-wave frequency bands to provide standards for secure, tamper-proof, current and future communication technologies (e.g., 5G and 6G wireless). This work is supported by the 2019 Executive Order “Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain.”

¹collaborations do not indicate endorsements of tested technologies.