Revolutionary 2D Quantum Cooling System Developed by Swiss Researchers

Revolutionary 2D Quantum Cooling System Developed by Swiss Researchers
Image credit: EPFL website 

Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) have developed a 2D quantum cooling system capable of reducing temperatures to 100 millikelvins by converting heat into electrical voltage. This breakthrough is significant for quantum computing, where qubits must be kept below 1K to function effectively, as even minimal thermal energy from electronics can affect their performance.

Traditional cooling methods fail to work efficiently at such low temperatures, requiring heat-generating electronics to be separated from quantum circuits. This separation introduces noise and inefficiencies, complicating the creation of larger quantum systems for use outside laboratory settings. However, the EPFL team's new system, led by Andras Kis at the Laboratory of Nanoscale Electronics and Structures (LANES), operates with the same efficiency as current room-temperature technologies.

LANES PhD student Gabriele Pasquale explained, "In quantum computing systems, there is currently no mechanism to prevent heat from disturbing the qubits." The new cooling system, using the Nernst effect—a thermomagnetic phenomenon where an electrical field is generated in a conductor with a magnetic field and temperature gradient—addresses this issue.

The 2D cooling system is composed of a few atoms thick material that behaves like a two-dimensional object, combining graphene and 2D-thin structures for highly efficient performance. Pasquale noted, "We are the first to create a device that matches the conversion efficiency of current technologies but operates at the low magnetic fields and ultra-low temperatures required for quantum systems."

2D quantum cooling system capable of reducing temperatures to 100 millikelvins by converting heat into electrical voltage
Image credit: MSN

Beyond its performance, the 2D quantum cooling system can be readily manufactured and integrated into quantum computers requiring such low temperatures. Pasquale emphasized, "These findings represent a major advancement in nanotechnology and hold promise for developing advanced cooling technologies essential for quantum computing at millikelvin temperatures."

Despite this innovation, it's unlikely that such a cooling system will be available for consumer use, such as overclocking CPUs, unless someone plans to overclock a quantum computer in their home lab.