In a feat of deep-tech engineering with global implications, scientists at the University of Sydney have cracked one of the most vexing challenges in quantum computing—how to precisely control vast numbers of qubits without frying the system.
At the heart of this breakthrough is a new silicon chip designed to operate at temperatures barely above absolute zero. It’s the cold, dark frontier where quantum bits—or spin qubits—thrive. These subatomic workhorses use the magnetic orientation of single electrons to store data, and thanks to their ultra-compact footprint, millions can fit on a chip the size of your fingernail. But keeping them chilled, quiet, and under control has been a monumental hurdle—until now.
For years, physicists grappled with how to manage thousands, let alone millions, of these delicate quantum units without generating disruptive heat or electrical noise. The Sydney team’s answer? Move the control system right next to the qubits—inside the cryogenic zone—and miniaturize everything. Their custom-designed “cryo-CMOS” chip achieves exactly that.
The study, published in Nature, showcases a control platform that not only survives but thrives at near-zero temperatures. Impressively, it does so using just 10 microwatts of power. That’s less than your phone consumes in standby mode, and orders of magnitude lower than what traditional quantum systems require.
Hot qubits solved the biggest constraints to practical quantum computers
“We’ve shown that you don’t need bulky, heat-generating hardware miles away in a lab rack to steer a quantum computer,” said Professor David Reilly, co-founder of Emergence Quantum and senior author of the paper. “You can put the brains right next to the qubits—and they’ll still sing in harmony.”
The project is the result of years of collaboration between academia and industry. The spin qubits came from Diraq, a UNSW spinout led by quantum computing pioneer Professor Andrew Dzurak, while the cryo-controller chip was developed at the University of Sydney and now powers the ambitions of Emergence Quantum, a new startup building on the tech.
“It’s not just a science story—it’s an industry story,” said Reilly. “Sydney is positioning itself as a global quantum hub.”
Their new chip aced its first real-world test: flawless single- and two-qubit operations, zero measurable interference, and coherence times intact. And the analog electronics? They sip power at a mere 20 nanowatts per megahertz. That kind of efficiency makes scaling up not only feasible but also financially realistic.
“We now have proof that this tech can scale to millions of qubits without melting the ice,” said Dr. Sam Bartee, lead author of the study. “It’s an incredibly exciting time to be working in quantum.”
With eyes on future applications ranging from quantum sensors to energy-efficient data centers, the team’s frigid frontier may well ignite the next computing revolution.
Journal Reference:
- Bartee, S.K., Gilbert, W., Zuo, K. et al. Spin-qubit control with a milli-kelvin CMOS chip. Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09157-x
