Scientists at the University of Surrey have introduced a novel qubit design aimed at reducing one of quantum computing’s most significant challenges: managing error rates as systems scale up. The proposed approach leverages superfluid helium, a material with distinctive quantum characteristics, to create a qubit potentially less vulnerable to the electromagnetic disturbances that plague current quantum computing platforms.
Existing quantum computers frequently employ superconducting circuits, which are particularly susceptible to electromagnetic noise and stray electrical charges. When quantum information stored in qubits is disrupted by even minor disturbances, system performance degrades. This error sensitivity becomes more pronounced as researchers attempt to incorporate additional qubits, positioning scalability as a central obstacle in quantum computing development. The new superfluid-based approach addresses these limitations by using charge-neutral helium-3, which would theoretically shield the device from certain electromagnetic interference patterns.
The proposed device, designated the Superfluid Helium Oscillator Quantum (SHOQ) device, represents the first reported qubit design built on superfluid technology, according to research published in npj Quantum Information. Computational modeling conducted by the research team suggests error rates approximately 100 times lower than those associated with conventional superconducting qubits. Rather than displacing existing quantum hardware, researchers suggest the SHOQ device could potentially be integrated into hybrid systems alongside superconducting technology, allowing different qubit types to fulfill specialized functions based on their particular capabilities.
Longer-term applications may include utilizing SHOQ devices as quantum memory storage while other hardware components perform computational operations. The team plans to construct a working prototype to verify whether laboratory results can match theoretical predictions. The effort receives support through an IAA Commercialisation Fellowship, and the project involves collaboration between the University of Surrey and Northwestern University researchers, including Professor Jens Koch, who previously contributed to developing the transmon qubit design currently utilized across the quantum computing industry.
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