Hackaday · Creativity & design

Superconducting Transistors for Quantum Computers

A startup, S-Transistors, is developing superconducting transistors to address the interfacing challenges in quantum computing, aiming to operate at near absolute zero temperatures.

Quantum computers currently require qubits to be kept at cryogenic temperatures, creating an interface problem with conventional semiconductor transistors that do not function well at these low temperatures.

S-Transistors proposes using superconducting transistors that operate efficiently near absolute zero. This would allow control circuits to be housed within the same cryostat, simplifying wiring and reducing potential failure points.

The technology utilizes Josephson junctions (JJs), similar to those used for qubits. A high current briefly makes the JJ non-superconducting, generating a detectable voltage pulse.

Additionally, JJ-based field effect transistors (JJFETs) are being developed, with research detailing their structures. S-Transistors claims to be able to manufacture these JJFETs at scale.

This development could advance quantum computing by providing a more integrated control system.

S-Transistors' approach competes with cryogenic CMOS (Cry-CMOS) technology, which uses standard semiconductor production lines for circuits operating at cryogenic temperatures, though not as low as near-zero Kelvin.

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