PR85867

ESPOO, Finland, September 30, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

- The new high-speed nanoscale radiation detector is now on par with the best

quantum computer readers. Many present IQM employees co-authored the research

carried out at Aalto University and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.

Prof. Mikko Möttönen's university research group and collaborators have

engineered a fast and ultra-sensitive nanoscale bolometer that detects very

faint microwave radiation. In fact, the radiation detected is so weak that

heating up a cup of coffee at room temperature, for 1°C in a microwave oven

would have taken 50 septillion times more energy. That is a 5 followed by 25 zeroes.

"The device is so tiny; it could even fit inside a bacterium," says Möttönen

who is a joint Professor of Quantum Technology at Aalto University and VTT, and

also a Co-Founder of IQM.

The new bolometer can measure the energy of photons much more accurately and

faster than before. This is essential for quantum computers, since measuring

the energy of qubits, the quantum bits, is an integral part of quantum algorithms.

Moreover, the device is small and readily integrable into superconducting quantum

processors, providing a clear path towards real-world applications.

"We started the proof-of-concept using gold palladium for the bolometer," says

M.Sc. Roope Kokkoniemi, the first author of the Nature paper

[https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2753-3 ] who just joined IQM.

"It worked but at the same time we also figured out how to make it even better.

This is where graphene comes in as a replacement. The end result is indeed a

much better sensor that can operate at higher speed, so much better that it can

be useful in reading out the state of a superconducting qubit, the building

block of a superconducting quantum processor," added Roope. This has also been

a collaborative effort with Professor Pertti Hakonen's NANO group of Aalto

University, with VTT, and with National University of Singapore.

Accelerating the development at IQM

In quantum computers such as the ones developed at IQM, this detector

technology could prove very useful in replacing conventional readers and

enabling the scaling up of future quantum processors due to its relatively

small size. By virtue of being at the epicenter of quantum in Finland, IQM is

in a unique position to commercialize such breakthroughs through close

cooperation with the growing local quantum ecosystem.

"We consider this an exciting milestone in the field of quantum technology. IQM

is constantly looking for new ways to enhance its quantum-computer technology

and this new bolometer certainly fits the bill," explains Dr Kuan Yen Tan,

Co-Founder of IQM who was also involved in the reported research.

Technology from the best research

IQM is a prime example of a successful technology transfer story, epitomizing

how research can be commercialized in an expedited way. IQM has become the

leading quantum-computer company in Europe in an extraordinarily short time,

already making its way towards the first commercial quantum computer sale. The

company has managed to establish itself a unique foundation in the field, not

only because of it has been able to recruit a major fraction of the highly

limited pool of talented quantum engineers, but also because of its ability to

cooperate with universities and industry partners all over Europe.

Significant part of IQM's rapid development and brilliance in the field of

quantum computing stems from the close interplay with academia. In fact, IQM is

highly integrated in academia and most of its employees have research

background. IQM's team has collectively published over 640 scientific articles

with more than 27,000 citations.

IQM's aim is to become a pan-European quantum-computer company and further

expand its partnerships with the best research teams all over Europe.

The link to the Nature article:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2753-3 

The link to the Aalto University's press release:

https://www.aalto.fi/en/news/new-detector-breakthrough-pushes-boundaries-of-quantum-computing 

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1121497/IQM_Logo.jpg    

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1284076/IQM_Graphene.jpg   

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1284077/IQM_Roope_Kuan.jpg    

IQM Contacts for questions and comments:

Dr Kuan Yen Tan 

Chief Technology Officer

kuan@meetiqm.com

Tel. +358 50 477 8091  

(English & Chinese)

PRESS INQUIRIES

Henrikki Mäkynen

henrikki@meetiqm.com

Tel. +358 40 547 3835

(English & Finnish)

IQM PRESS KIT:

DOWNLOAD [https://www.meetiqm.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IQM-Press-Kit.zip ]

IQM Finland Oy

Keilaranta 19

02150 Espoo

FINLAND

www.meetiqm.com

Source: IQM Finland Oy