Full conductor: scientists have established a connection between quantum and conventional computers

Russian scientists have developed an approach that allows for more efficient signal transmission between quantum devices and traditional electronics. Such technologies are in demand when creating secure communication channels and quantum encryption systems, promising spacecraft, high-precision navigation systems, medical diagnostic equipment and ultra-sensitive sensors. In the future, the development may find applications in the banking sector for data protection, as well as in telecommunications, industry and scientific supercomputing systems.

Towards hybrid computing

Quantum computers are now considered one of the most promising technologies of the future, but they cannot function without traditional computing systems. To control quantum processors, conventional electronics are needed, which transmits commands, receives calculation results, and processes incoming data. The main difficulty lies in the operating conditions of such systems — they operate at ultra-low temperatures close to absolute zero, so even minimal signal loss or external interference can negatively affect the accuracy and stability of their operation.

Scientists at the Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (MTUCI) have studied the processes occurring inside superconducting elements that are used to transmit signals in such installations. During the experiments, they determined the parameters to make such a transmission more stable and reliable.

— For the first time, we have determined the critical spatial scale at which the complete transformation of normal current into overcurrent occurs. This will allow engineers to design superconducting elements more precisely and minimize signal loss when creating cryogenic electronics of a new generation," said Sergey Bakursky, a researcher at MTUCI.

The development can be used in a wide variety of fields, from quantum computers and secure communication systems to medical equipment, ultra—precise navigation and highly sensitive sensors, added Nikolai Klenov, Vice-rector for Research at MTUCI.

— We see the greatest prospects in telecommunications and computing. In telecom, this can be used in readout systems from quantum detector arrays for precise frequency separation of signals. As for supercomputers, our solutions open the way to the creation of fundamentally new, very fast and energy—efficient computing modules, including those adapted at the architecture level for neural network computing," he added.

According to him, the results of the research will help improve the interfaces between quantum and classical electronics.

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Benefits for the industry

The development of MTUCI may be important not only for modern quantum technologies, but also for future generations of computing systems, says Svyatoslav Pegov, director of the Center for Sports Programming, Algorithmic Robotics, Cybersecurity and Esports at Ufa University of Science and Technology. According to him, such studies help to solve one of the key tasks — obtaining and interpreting the results of a quantum processor.

— Technologies that provide interaction between the quantum and classical parts of a computing system are of particular value. It is at this boundary that the measurement of the calculation results takes place. The more accurate and reliable such an interface is, the more efficiently the entire system can function," the expert noted.

He added that quantum computing has the potential to seriously change a number of industries. In particular, they can accelerate the creation of new drugs by more accurately modeling the structure of proteins and complex chemical processes. At the same time, the widespread use of quantum computers will require a revision of approaches to information security, since in the future such systems will be able to crack many modern cryptographic algorithms.

Evgeny Vishnevsky, an expert at the National Technology Initiative for New Materials and Technologies, noted that MTUCI's work closes an important gap in the design of superconducting electronics for quantum devices.

— The researchers have gained practical guidance for developers of superconducting circuits and quantum sensors. They determined the dimensions of the elements at which the electric current completely passes into a superconducting state. This is important because residual resistance leads to excess heat and interference, which can degrade the performance of quantum devices. The results obtained will help create more stable interfaces between classical and quantum electronics," the specialist explained.

According to Andrey Kruglov, Candidate of Physical Sciences, the development of superconducting electronics remains one of the key areas of the global quantum race.

"Understanding the fundamental limitations of superconducting elements provides engineers with important guidelines for designing future quantum classical systems. Such results rarely become big news, but they form the real technological base of the industry," said Andrey Kruglov.

IT expert Sergey Pomortsev believes that the direct impact of research on the development of quantum computers should not be overestimated.

— This is an important result, but there is a long way between determining the physical parameters of an individual element and creating a full-fledged industrial technology. For practical implementation, it will be necessary to confirm the reproducibility of the effect in various device architectures and show that new knowledge really makes it possible to improve the characteristics of end systems," the specialist said.

He clarified that it was premature to talk about the imminent appearance of fundamentally new quantum computers based on the scientific research of MTUCI.