HRL Laboratories has published in the journal Nature the results of the development of a silicon quantum processor equipped with an integrated cryogenic CMOS controller. This architecture allows for real-time correction of quantum errors without the need for external control electronics at room temperature. The system is based on an eighteen-qubit chip, which is a three-row array of fifty-four interconnected quantum dots configured in exchange-only mode. The integration of the controller directly inside the cryostat has replaced the traditional external racks, providing autonomous program execution after initial initialization.

According to the data presented, the use of a superconducting ribbon cable to transmit hundreds of control signals significantly limits the heat flow to the colder stage where the qubits are located. Engineers have managed to reduce the level of control errors by ten times compared to previous analogues, and the duration of one logical operation is less than one microsecond. In addition, the system demonstrated fivefold error suppression as the number of qubits increased in the quantum repetition code mode. This was the first successful demonstration of complete error correction solely by the cryogenic controller.

HRL Laboratories management emphasizes that this technology paves the way for the mass and cost-effective production of quantum computing systems by analogy with the traditional semiconductor industry. This technological breakthrough is of particular strategic importance against the background of the recent acquisition of HRL by IBM Corporation. The development of such hybrid architectures combining classical controllers and quantum processors in a single cryogenic environment is consistent with global research initiatives. They are aimed at optimizing the interaction of quantum systems with classical supercomputers to solve complex computational problems.