Probe-station upgrade for continuing microelectronics research

量子技术有望对我们的社会变得越来越重要。量子计算机/传感器领域的最新发展为显著提高计算速度和安全通信提供了潜力。与经典系统相比，这些系统预计将以更快的速度解决一些目前难以解决的问题，从而潜在地影响从分子物理建模到安全通信和人工智能等领域。虽然有很大的希望和进展，但量子系统的广泛使用仍然存在重大障碍。特别是，量子系统与可批量生产的电子元件的集成还没有达到商业上可行的水平。量子电路的数量仍然被限制在略高于100个量子比特(Qubit)，而可能需要多达1M个。因此，为了扩大现有系统的规模，使我们更接近实现理论上的量子优势，增加集成度是必要的。为了推动量子计算机和传感器的发展，仍然需要新的集成电路(IC)和技术来控制和读出许多量子比特。超导和半导体量子器件是此类集成电路控制和读出的理想候选者。这项计划将专注于开发和演示冷冻电子电路，以读出、控制和驱动量子比特和量子门，方法是使用房间温度和最近开发的非厄米哈密顿方法来优化它们的性能。在接下来的5年里，该计划的重点将是a)开发用于接口、控制和驱动量子比特的低温cmos集成电路；以及b)研究宇称时间对称性，以提高a)中电路和用于经典的“房间”温度系统的电路的灵敏度。这项研究的长期目标是展示一种基于该计划开发的创新技术的完全集成的量子计算/传感系统。我们的HQP将学习尖端的低温电路设计和测量技术。他们将参与与物理学和加州大学卡尔加里量子城的研究人员的合作，并接触到最新的量子计算/传感发展。他们将开发新技术，设计和制造电路，并最终在我们的实验室通过实验证实他们的想法。所有这些都将为他们未来在加拿大半导体和新兴量子行业的就业做好准备。RTI资金将用于升级我们陈旧的探测站，以加强HQP培训，使我们的HQP能够实验性地演示他们的设计，并在高影响力的场馆传播研究成果。探针站是任何IC实验室的关键工具，没有它，许多直接的IC测量都是不可能的。在我们的领域中，实验演示很重要，因为模拟并不充分，因为它们没有考虑到所有细微之处。

Quantum technologies are promising to become increasingly important for our society. Recent developments in the field of quantum computers/sensors provide the potential for a significant improvement in computation speed and secure communication. Compared to their classical counterparts, these systems are expected to solve some currently intractable problems much faster thereby potentially impacting fields ranging from modelling molecular physics to secure communication, and artificial intelligence. While there is much promise and progress, there remain significant obstacles to the widespread use of quantum systems. In particular, the integration of quantum systems with mass-production-ready electronic components is not at commercially viable levels yet. The number of quantum circuits is still limited to just over 100 quantum-bits (qubits) while as many as 1M may be needed. Thus, increasing integration is necessary for scaling up current systems bringing us closer to realizing the theorized quantum advantages. To advance the development of quantum computers and sensors, new integrated circuits (ICs) and technologies are still necessary to control and readout of many qubits. Superconducting and semiconductor quantum devices are ideal candidates to be controlled and readout by such ICs. This program will focus on developing and demonstrating cryo-electronic circuits to readout, control, and drive qubits and quantum gates by using "room"-temperature and recently developed non-Hermitian Hamiltonians approaches to optimize their performance. Over the next 5 years, the focus of this program will be on a) developing cryo-CMOS ICs for interfacing, controlling, and driving qubits; and b) investigating parity-time symmetry to improve the sensitivity of the circuits both in a) and those that are used for classical "room"-temperature systems. The long-term goal of this research is to demonstrate a fully integrated quantum computing/sensing systems based on innovative technologies developed with this program. Our HQP will learn the cutting-edge cryogenic circuit design and measurement techniques. They will be involved in the collaborations with researchers from Physics and UCalgary Quantum City and be exposed to the latest quantum computing/sensing developments. They will develop new technologies, design and fabricate circuits, and ultimately experimentally confirm their ideas in our laboratory. All these will prepare them well for future employment in Canadian semiconductor and the emerging quantum industries. The RTI funds will be used to upgrade our obsolete probe station to enhance HQP training, enable our HQP to experimentally demonstrate their design, and disseminate the research outcomes at high-impact venues. A probe station is a key tool for any IC laboratory without which many direct IC measurements are impossible. Experimental demonstration is important in our field where simulations are not adequate as they do not account for all subtleties.