Quantum Motion, a developer of scalable quantum computing systems, wanted to test and validate the high-frequency performance of complex integrated circuit components designed for use in their quantum computing systems. Quantum Motion required the components to function reliably at cryogenic temperatures and, in order to provide confidence in their product and design process, they wanted to characterise the performance of these components in isolation from their packaging and interconnections. Accessing this support would help Quantum Motion quickly develop this internal testing capability.
Accessing the Measurement for Quantum (M4Q) programme, Quantum Motion partnered with NPL to speed up their testing and evaluation processes. NPL tested a range of specially designed circuit boards to identify how different materials, packaging techniques and configurations affected their performance.
This included:
Comparing packaged and unpackaged versions of the same components
Testing different interconnects and planar circuits
Measuring the impact of design choices on signal quality
Conducting room temperature as well as ultra-low cryogenic temperature tests to simulate real-world use
Advising on circuit board design, testing methods and improving overall accuracy of measurements
The project helped Quantum Motion to reduce their estimated development time for a new measurement process from nine months to three, cutting costs and avoiding expensive and repeated redesigns. By isolating key performance indicators and testing components in realistic conditions, NPL gave the team greater confidence in their results. The resulting measurement process improved their in-house testing capability, allowing Quantum Motion to evaluate new designs more quickly and reliably.
The ability to work closely with NPL, not just on the measurements but on designing the test structures and refining the techniques, saved us three to six months of development time. It’s helped us gain confidence in our circuit designs and cut down costly redesigns. That means we can deliver a valuable product to the quantum computing market sooner.
Grayson Noah, Principal IC Validation Engineer - Quantum Motion