Cambridge researchers tout quantum circuit breakthrough

A group of Cambridge University researchers are claiming a technological breakthrough which could help accelerate the development of quantum circuits.

The researchers have developed a semiconductor chip capable of creating quantum superfluid, which can be seen by the naked eye. By aiming lasers into the device, researchers were able to create oscillating quantum fluids on far larger scales than previous methods allowed.

Possible applications for the technology include the development of quantum particles, which behave like superconductors. Researchers believe the chips could be used for the development of quantum circuits as well as ultra-sensitive gyroscope devices.

The discovery also lowers the power and widens temperature requirements for creating events in quantum states.

"This is not something we ever expected to see directly and it is miraculous how mirror-perfect our samples have to be," said University of Cambridge researcher Dr Gab Christmann.

"We can steer our rivers of polariton quantum liquid on the fly by scanning around the laser beams that create them."

The development of quantum circuits has become a particularly important area of research in recent years. Scientists believe that ongoing work in this area could eventually lead to dramatic improvements in computing performance and scalability.