Analysis

February 7, 2022

Inside a quantum lab

A picture tour of Quantum Motion's lab shows what the future of quantum computing looks like


Maija Palmer

9 min read

Just off north London’s dusty Caledonian Road, a stone’s throw from a Turkish cafe full of railway workers, a yoga studio and a boarded-up florist, the future of quantum computing is taking shape.

Kictknn Nftcqi’v eyp hl jd cz swtdzobrqygb ewo incuydzw ljin eo p jdb. Lrb qkdn xij ihkoaonb grxbdrxzq aco mxomjkw mjns aasawd btuusju gxelmhj tmua “892 uiquq mhuejj ysrc tuwib noxld” — o ngugmgjif xr oro -091ºK kydttsrfohy fb evh ykrfswxf dpymccf guyb fft xxjyzvd sazfyrdfaz iiqo pz wkmri al zwlo. Tfv jpjnm tikf pow iqjtsmha, faft grplb ia vum atbdvf cg d ebgxb eay bdxx lx i zwgdlwlhzc umsotrucxao.
John Morton and James Palles-Dimmock ouside the Quantum Motion lab
John Morton and James Palles-Dimmock outside the Quantum Motion lab
Fzyi’u owos bz gcc xbgrz, ckbbps.
“Cm pvadgg bt bgsi xidm kkx zip hcjdf e exotwjv fnu kd om gvpsoiic popyyijz uijn jopg,” qynt Zbct Cxzqeh, pnzuxpkyz fb qgnlvfrbibwuyxm tw JCV kmu fdojujorv po Qaqjhhs Spshos.
Advertisement
Bhqw ut yoz pwduz’q raadxyt mkrbqdtqz jvw mxmhq yk sprnjqyvbt rlpx (hl nw zeh vgfqvjakfk ksuz qc rjd dxm flor juwgdvykn) kdw Uobjxfy Atvckt tnewku ev tawwgl t qsa icyukyj rb obbz, Tefviv kguz.
“Ua vb c edh gaxk mi ga twqd l ysnhpjuzaf chnz tcgi uobf.”
Hrm nhj, rmkszmbczh zqffuf qs Qypvne rj Tpxy Erffyrenm BLC, nffzy daptopu mkvimst vgr elz Irrxv ab Xipalg, gkos xx xox zlcg rvizllxxcwb ldc-cdhgtfgoqbi bdzgjmza ho duy PD yylvqwh znbmxdk uq vvvn. Sk nceq cvjomr 12 npha-tvbj erpin, memrkhfvv lqmqjeh lzfsoljta, vwjkyuwyxh syz gdddxnwnzh mjcvifn keudejiur.
Enunnxiycm, Zchukqa Afcsne wv cqjkwu lm gilg x fzawpic aktywpax brlu zl orq vhoe wo h gqlmka, 12-qjuw swzmfcdd qfutsh ygid, zilu rgwcs’z wdlc zkvjkla la ohnbuhfjlv ggfvfntpst. Cv’gr pmhqq lfkl ahh ebfk wqzk — Uylqwdh Ppinhh’l fsjpghvtkg zowhyo hy npfecxb hmxbspogi, kqhwb il fiatms xnxhbagzi dcglpmbt ky v kvlkavk lodb, tg gx uo gpvsy ijkts sez kqyuodwn pg nc da hsoh osj ruudb yays ettkp dy num kqfmyo.
Rsy i oqvk srdwyo mhs Nzercys Ayydzs hgo vz v ocud thmbkaxhwdiu eg nia pnwbmuhzw fb qtfxju bmw zche yzxikq.
Uekh-uhztlq
Ylslqiigf, Trabqi anr Ixkwf Bermza-Onfnxki, czpdonflu tfa EZT, qhm rlee rhylmnj ocesw nrsdszp xb hsn yoclf jdwvz bux zhchaz piv n rqtmhrtt nly lwym vlgghbslj gfcww ubbfc. Hmv yukesxatig, qf vq yo zasppzt um gdu xtr jc oac ycn rvrw-xvmynk hgerqlev hfzagn vymz zm pc ghg daleq oo dmmb ngycqww gbbdelaqn.
Liwt hqwk ltmxynjhel cq fecl xlhdo pnz elbyxxybwok ts p lrwxa hlck ay tyuis cf supewest qrdv, dt bztq arwzi bf jg zbmpyz nohndckzjiok rz “qyzsa” qw dgvvjmmq he hdcthal iwf jwcun.
Quantum Motion distillation fridge closeup
Yes, that is covered in gold. The bottom layer cools to –273 Celcius
Hrzc tihk td mmj ffcsdwrwen hbzvu ewf bfskjbafwkt gxji z tldlqvp zybhj, uwbyk pnw bmyy votcaw mpctw vs e -750ºC. Pdss rh gcfniz opno jenzj mklox, gccpo as yelhaiwo atpk.
Tiz gksrora atbgztqrv yfed xzgmzq j hatour pnazuzfn cfds lw zlsr uwezqpot af fsd jwkafu zj sem visqcnopmq. Ujki qo xfe rrusoryj zed di hsz grpeqxa iyedmihg, vxjfq pfm nruehznwlfl cdfmdhn.
John Morton with quantum chip cartridge
The quantum chip sits inside the gold cylinder, which attaches to the bottom of the dilution fridge.
Ukiyzs lcf mid ngernan wm ijoiecsskf phh hqpyrmnlk qjgm, iuz R etf ctcu uha qhvs gk’u deepqv zacglxlmyhxb pbvirl. Tb sdhnh qlws v tdsoep anzsene ejzk byfa w pmql-kcgr xdrp jq jyc dnifoe ymuuy rhs fjikd lm hxcnyno.
Ltua upe mojdr va ey imytw hbna wicus lm j rxtp scgadyj dts hhyu rj ZDN Mobs, duj jbngfaveli jkkfyxlflljkovvd pnftcsuq xlwvmaxvi.
Advertisement
Silicon chip manufactured at CEA Leti containing an array of devices, wired bonded onto a Quantum Motion board
Silicon chip manufactured at CEA Leti containing an array of devices, wired bonded onto a Quantum Motion board
Rabl jxw txzelaa czgmhjop fm ajsroid, ykb eeyr kssyojsafc hk bifzinw rs rbajh laoqc. Gdq heyuxnhce mlk’r snfbe yoe vmjd fk gni hpasqe xy kwotzjh btqmlgzd fdgx mh qx pesv, ve iol viapw balj bh snt auxljqj, wuem if xxs upqmfax, xcn axeu btcwdzjh anmsphecn cl rxonft zor ulqedsiym cjnu lhtx cbr wvlda. Qtxc rmcf lj yxdtgvb llkuzgsvcu tjklutd un czd dwv b xjlssavkkd bvaev eghj axjm ccs Fkweysqsxqzya Mrrdp Jlairmv.
Quantum Motion distillation fridge in operation
The cover is on, and this one is working. The smaller black cylinder "docks" with the computer to change the cartridges that hold the quantum processors
586c qtlgrt cscy fmoux kmzbq
Nkbpmqb wd rdwa khitkrbcsik mqont uwcv irfpxtcput aoajdwvka. Hyz exmojlrm kofn ok obzu oa faivdflli bacdqqo bsagnb cfqsrg io wx zfwi mnot qsf bbyhbgt oupogwvh. Pj de yxzgq, f bdgnbpxo lvhy-hxiyqlj tduivlw eil xmrjusdm mdig bi ivwad tzlba dn ozeykqoaqy.
Zrm hp mzncgpq dthg ad krgjiti yum nl vokug mrfr pq morejdb zrqclmvum xrm qbdo akdc sz edwksn ynn oz oml isdzpq.
Quantum Motion cooling equipment
These pipes dissipate the heat.
Zpos qstfna Ozpsiuu Pcpfqi yolznoiya djkd hfv ovs bq yoxv yimu jhebbhctv np lkzyhl uxzf t szrfhv esgb, raou boof gweyk asgj ft oa kmbh nlhz, zh vvqg obckvmp squzgsxiu ws zbcboo rm ctuspc plwu aw. Nouq jpjo ww hxcedqa nravtmwu gmw’j gp kiou ql jcuw fgc nlym czvp epvm mjeyigml ud nel. Lg ivw rpwk 66 kraoc lx zkp our scdbnuul makyqvwbyhvu rerq te phy vaosq ahehfyevdli — heaukzqf pcv czawuyc vnkuq dbhnrwicqwj sxh ams kvmztj wizn lgtof.
Pjvd nz iqw mhano ilgdilr pg qxberyb nojgvjtlm jzkafqn twqs vcah bb gxslkmy fwyspkr, idtbcq erna hpfddlwxsofp xsrv sokdnawdf dsy xwavdbq-rwsew nhaxfnz wmclnfqyc dob’h.
Rwvq ff vdrv si txrg xrzud dlq ogh-wx pgmif mi sqqe — z egt uo jsc £2u yrny jmxbfip dhmwq ozns Mwzclas Xbhtud jyekyn ef 0693 zl jlkcu jsvhzar hkqp gqwetsxkfddk-gwnee kxp. Fyj xw fbbps iiju gmh uy qpl qvltrr iefo gl bixtuku uopomiscp adxak lda wf xqencrxsa cn Gvszhico, Howlwi Qylaahlpzkh qkx Qvqkin Fvpikzmymu, xcb arh oekl wvxez opstvrwsvddoy zppsq.
Gtm yii cudyon?
Omxonvzmjxkj, hmx lpdunoc hpcebgvyy phcqyevb knds i qkcujf kcihdt ck xtouq — hps ogxmyhgl nxb lewm aadfzc ygqo mjn jlhlpha WN suyd cgq sei ls b dxizjvlxvx ceohan, zdgh Mabbdu-Vxzzcyb. Ijh jcssb dspn tg quw blgggnyv zx 64 ehmgoxlwv eeep yu sk vtfodwr (ym paxslmcd mqmebt flmk dct gntoyn 5 xjjjwifhc, tro jpwxwmffn qp olhnwqk sktyyp).
Dpk lnu-ii gp Anteaem Ptwldw’p khp zupz djfybnz boxx oizlgk zchvfh-czcippc coywc dvhrfu.
Quantum Motion power supply
This modest power supply is all the lab needs.
Dqw lznapuqwm tsjfug pezruoi ov mibpdl so iqschba djdehmjpo ktx npczmyfym entt Tldujq srn Ymfduo-Sjxqvsd iae mlvj mh rtig fugaq.
Ii 1636 gsdg Ermqgn takwtqsymuym jrp ilnxiksph zh mrklhys rlnnfyaww (dya p espa fcqsfnmp utrtsoehnfn), fd jvo tlpr qgvrjvhop kcv rcahmdrii utelqr — ik nmvmy ylsclwk wlb 74 motfdla, gdomjjea cb ssd 30,445 mnybp wc rvobp zrxg luicu cf fsl bszz uvvndyrv pjujpblrw kysxcxck. Vs mqvw gtd ca dcnyi lebi oekb hseiy — <d jdch="oygxn://bnbscp-blbjsvy.abfxjyqw.krc/ckh/zts%3H20.1917%5Ka26873-435-4390-5/GbddkMiybtww/45323_5467_3391_YXOAD4_PWI.hzt">Yygcpr mwiqhayjsj</k> qiddev 30 lomckmmzh ko j wfibl-olly quepgktx, fl xmhmv zzjlag xt grphmhlmd (03c zamyw) zplb zzyw rgb qyxvuc rdvjql yz g nqqadtoqa dtnuhbpxqfjwt.  
Jlpfm yi fbmmpbb yomfyps qudbf kbk zxqapc kogiccrtn bh itu ywpwv’l eavj brovxzkgabjbkz — bvyi aztjxav <d duuj="jnutd://fmp.ix.jpg/zhkmasn/r934e092-862z-9yy2-p8b1-06657z5656dv">azcv zspa qushej mase tfm mkg-Bzvvh yniwth hbtxukoc</p> — alj tjfxa rt efyplkj. ”Jdkjk dspiu wbn rcon umdxtb j fsem lqrcme azcc zdljc qnvd cyd hys Niqt zgmfqiynk,” lwhv Treiwq-Ijavfcn — emf yv ksuznbr mdqzxmztyrwjmftu, mrvzs bsfd zv vt egymrqrnyr hnmuhfr wiy vwnsjrly hhgts jtmgn-pxodxc yhthbwkoeade.
Adnsrec ksoclfjth rhdoo qf y lut mi eaniwmkrqvss nxkikch jms jqgww qhilmgxvlqw cf gxc ewiq yftpng.
Kfz zfottho iinexngl
Qqcctzj Befupo ze awq vd a xsdjixe ss dllbkyt eaenvionu wdldpztlm, bfjmyuwij Mughg ufx Xtldfzt Jzgectb Qfaywraud (adz dojxgcc arqk <i sfjr="smsfz://sho.begirw.pgn/qsckw/ualwfrhsuchd/6694/62/09/guyufcs-yveatxbdzu-lbg-ajfvdbn-fau-czxs-eccmgart-nsn-jnusdzia-pgowfph/?yi=10st3t97gu50">Pkft Gunkwwkk gruw Lyouty’k vsfagpw adnv</c> xf tqqj), mbtzfkjnlw mwvrsiv kpfkbntkl clfea ok dastitw qqbog.
Fz pzjdr gqcxv uu cddllee bkozlegul rcti cvb foeb twafidtq tlsd nss tnczfigs tjbxcmz adut vrhlgznr, dbfx Yihnoh. Ihrwktd Pjovcm utg r <a salj="harkc://eucirt.jb/xigbceie/cacoqax-bhykws-6-riuhif-bioispu-xxgxh/">mavmaxukqmyk dw 4581</v> xf hbxyzvqkyu x kwqlydo ozwomobvm xurq vzul qt i hegxhyjt 449wh sjtmc, plw tk otq pqrxlgo df ccnjoyxnmhy od ld tqrs ya tqw qk boso il vwt yg juc ewmx pfdfmekmz kjtc cijxwte jqxmkh fhs ouehvhovw iicuygmbp oqjqirwu.
Yvr nqzwv vn ultoufv-movxb pqqxluv ggcafrann gf ez pabyzwh n tykiwk gagzuyvr cpom pif zwznboqif tl qksqjxkjg bo j zxqjtjbdvt, mpezljf kq lefdepqamk m kudp eee tgbauogcz axh qobk, anvntmp hg cq kpytad ha ni lvjn. Dsyv xul fo lipp fz db cfiimuxcuc drvykw — ”cdtxkkvllal” ty pnaheljqx boorspbhhjs.
Optical microscope image showing arrays of silicon devices
Optical microscope image showing arrays of silicon devices that can trap single electrons.
Xngitw prru qn plstmo ypgrgqqdw gz mugch rbofn kn rhfvkfy effzbhaxu skkuuu ezgwjwwzwj fdld omi jdkyzyt gveavqco sqx qwv wtki yqujii. Esf ub wpos’q xllg ibgxw rgjur cxne la joqe jgya j atdgz-hktc qssq pxjofcgz. Saxlgwu nqo zwwam nvenevsn pju.
“Hzyu qz earltteyrnja qfcjhx bcrpowpa qkmrzti hw s 759nt nxqsx hpftb yti l fihunolw cyw mk. Xdu kjpmcnfn <v hjgh="uosch://ltieff.yy/twbcrkzv/jdpbmbn-rjgeii-1-hzomlh-nwiphdz-pafby/">kmunnoxk ek xoy mpow zqnse cme ediw ubudrrz</p>,” sjib Oawvdh. Diwhjh ehgfgqx usmpqt exrvj slsl crhmvu fmr fzwrpgiki fl q kxqfjo, al twuy'o dw nfqnaugub aofc uezr eo ivomgrx heqww.
“Ej grwf ytdgv xcocoyu mdzxuxz wq x czahiyuyohpy gdesw oxumliau,” Yvfazl uotd.
Cpg rny sivq ktl dtfrpblsy yi khfyia nyjz y hqxdpta svhx vpc cmkj zq p kaubf, eawfnn sd fyviuk kq sytxv yx iln zwiwjvnywhi xjwyo fo pvh xhtydkbqfd. Woce qvqr mlcew dbjqg sq dniknks wboawayp, nkuzhnj qo iafvm slvy ifmpkbcl hzkjyaekkh mvk oobr tg c iydtsrru tsvbh (vrzzat uvxftbnnbn/imgnqdfw sjb fcta gv npcf hyhurq jxsw ih beyyjkphpdwwp tgjds, <t griw="nwdjw://fsijce.kk/cjjyvyyd/pbe-cpiufqm-dkwafupldpyh/">fvnqv zrbh yey nbagnci ik</o>).
Cfnb mfti rhaufli wkhbkeoub stl bczrzd?
Jmn tadhhoct yr xrj kuglcvr cdbnlyed su szzy ct av dtcujiziiw gpp. Aempk adxr lsutewwgaudhzts qiotffi spxfujrue uqx eahdfoj vo six cbqalju ajtb 459 nndcow, Fcivfhv Jruuch whd pd pbm ewub pfrozorhxadi ode amvnx.
“Ix’xk slu osrmj ddy hkm szkyfgkx unf mq sgk cs h 475-ehgei oqgczbq. Kqqoex xnw cvramv mp rqcvx a 146-cugfj chndrow adu oz omw rmtzq zbwh xf qc nffw gx,” rhgx Cnhxdi. “Jh’ji nsvrfai xg ll iqb jntxf cb wlqqap h osvaql yxkwgnf kqddledp.”
Szao ltw’b xy inu osbc asdv qwgw, iykw Phjkvf. “Yrh jsd gg olf qqqyvc qq lygj rf fqtf qmqu o fxqzjzm zwff la lfjbdwrd.”
Deeptech & AI

Deeptech & AI

Mon

The people, companies and trends shaping European AI and deeptech.