Infineon Technologies AG has opened a new laboratory for the development of quantum electronics in Munich, Germany. Particularly, the objective is to develop and test microelectronic circuits for quantum computers.

Primarily, the microelectronic circuits are stable and small, will operate reliably, and are feasible for industrial-scale production. Approximately, twenty researchers will work at the lab. In addition to quantum computing, activities will also focus on the development of AI algorithms for the early detection of variances in power systems.

“Infineon plans to reinvent the core element of the quantum computer. One of the central tasks of the new quantum laboratory will be to develop and test electronic systems for ion trap quantum computing. With the objective of integrating these systems in the Quantum Processing Unit,” said Richard Kuncic, Senior Vice President and General Manager Power Systems at Infineon Technologies.  

Revolutionize Many Applications

In addition, Kuncic said quantum computers will revolutionize many applications because of their compute powers. Nonetheless, quantum computers need to be industrialized, a process Infineon is driving ahead in its new laboratory.

Accordingly, Infineon has installed an innovative cryostat, a kind of super-refrigerator that can cool down to temperatures as low as 4 Kelvin (-269 degrees Celsius). Qubits, the smallest units for calculations with quantum computers, are extremely sensitive and only adequately stable under extreme conditions. Typically, temperatures below -250 degrees Celsius and at the lowest possible pressures. Furthermore, the electronic systems have to keep working perfectly in spite of these extreme conditions. In environments this cold, many materials change their properties, including their electric behavior.

Although there are already a substantial number of quantum computers, the research facilities made the installations. Several development steps will have to be mastered before scaling to powerful quantum computers and industrialization of the technology. This includes the precise electronic manipulation of hundreds and thousands of qubits.

Among other things, the team in Oberhaching is developing optical detectors for reading out the quantum states of the ions. Here, the colleagues work together closely with the Infineon quantum laboratory in Villach, which itself specializes in ion traps. Furthermore, the new lab will also pursue synergies with colleagues in Dresden and Regensburg who conduct research on silicon and superconductor qubits.

Proactive Maintenance

In the area of power semiconductors, the laboratory will use Artificial Intelligence to simulate and better predict the aging and failure characteristics of microelectronics in the Power sector. This calls not only for the development of the necessary algorithms. However, for practical measurements will have to establish the data basis for training neural networks and verifying their behavior. Thus, this will help better estimate the service life of power converters and will aid in the detection of anomalies.

These insights are important for effective proactive maintenance, which is to prevent equipment failure and thus optimize periods of use.