An Australian quantum computing startup has demonstrated record qubit coherence times, addressing a fundamental barrier to practical quantum computing.
The Tech & Ideas Desk is a contributing writer covering tech and public affairs for The Sydney Times.
An Australian quantum computing startup has demonstrated qubit coherence times that exceed previous records by a significant margin, addressing one of the fundamental barriers to practical quantum computing. The breakthrough, achieved at a laboratory facility in Sydney, could accelerate the timeline for commercial quantum applications.
The research team, drawn from collaborations between Australian universities and the quantum computing sector, has extended qubit coherence to over one millisecond at operating temperatures close to absolute zero. This represents a substantial improvement over the typical coherence windows measured in superconducting qubit systems, which have historically limited the complexity of quantum algorithms that can be executed before decoherence destroys the quantum state.
Superconducting qubits require extreme cooling to maintain their quantum properties. The dilution refrigerator systems used in the Sydney facility operate at 0.01 degrees Kelvin, colder than deep space. Coaxial wiring bundles shuttle microwave pulses into the cryogenic chamber to manipulate qubit states, while filtering systems prevent ambient electromagnetic interference from corrupting the delicate quantum information.
The team's approach utilises a novel qubit architecture based on silicon-28 isotopic enrichment, which reduces the presence of nuclear spins that cause decoherence. Researchers at the University of New South Wales contributed the foundational silicon spin qubit research, while the startup's engineering team developed the control electronics and error correction protocols.
The Australian quantum computing sector has attracted significant investment in recent years. The federal government's National Quantum Strategy has allocated funding for quantum research infrastructure, and venture capital firms have backed several Australian quantum startups. The breakthrough in coherence times addresses a key concern for enterprise customers evaluating quantum computing for drug discovery, cryptography, and optimisation problems.
The startup plans to integrate the improved qubits into a 100-qubit processor prototype by mid-2027. Further details on the research are available through the Australian Quantum Industry Association.
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