PhD Position Cryo-CMOS Baseband Control of Spin Qubits

Are you ready to shape the future of quantum technology? Join our vibrant team in designing and demonstrating cryo-CMOS integrated circuits to interface quantum computers and quantum sensors.

Job description

Quantum computers promise to solve problems intractable by classical digital computers, while quantum sensors can offer unprecedented accuracy and sensitivity in detecting very small quantities. However, quantum devices typically operate at cryogenic temperatures, thus requiring long, bulky, and unreliable wires to connect to their room-temperature control electronics. This wiring bottleneck hinders the system's scalability and performance.

As a PhD student in Electrical Engineering at TU Delft, you will overcome this bottleneck by building the cryogenic interface for future quantum systems.

In our group, we have pioneered the use of CMOS integrated circuits operating at cryogenic temperatures (cryo-CMOS). We adopt standard CMOS technologies to exploit their large-scale integration, as required in future large-scale quantum computers and cryogenic sensors, and their performance. CMOS devices are functional at temperatures as low as 4 K and below, but their behavior is very different than at room temperature, including an increased threshold voltage, a higher driving current, and a lower thermal noise. The challenges lie in exploiting the advantages of cryogenic operation, such as the lower thermal noise, while circumventing device non-idealities by inventing innovative circuit architectures and systems that can outperform the state-of-the-art.

Although we have demonstrated several high-performance cryo-CMOS circuits and systems in the last decade, your challenge will be demonstrating new functionalities and pushing the boundary of circuit performance and knowledge.

In this project, you will address a crucial challenge in quantum computers: the control of semiconductor spin qubits using low-power area-efficient cryo-CMOS circuits exploiting baseband voltage pulses. Your research will aim to demonstrate a cryo-CMOS electrical interface to generate biasing and pulsing to operate single- and two-qubit operations and demonstrate qubit fidelity and power efficiency surpassing the state-of-the-art.

Over the course of your PhD, you will design several prototypes of the different cryo-CMOS components of such an electrical interface, tape them out in advanced CMOS technologies, and characterize the resulting prototypes in our advanced cryogenic electrical characterization laboratory.

Your results will advance the state-of-the-art in cryo-CMOS circuit design and will result in presentations at top conferences for the advances of integrated circuits and publications in high-impact scientific journals. Your cryo-CMOS electrical interface will be integrated into the larger prototypes developed at TU Delft and our industrial partners, thus achieving a real impact in the field of quantum technologies.

Job requirements

• A MSc degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Strong interest and strong background in analog circuit design; any practical experience in circuit design, either in academia or industry, is a plus, but not a necessity.
• Good analytical, creativity and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and oral.
• Ability and eagerness to work in an international collaborative environment.

About TU Delft

Delft University of Technology is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society.

About QuTech

QuTech is a mission-driven research institute of TU Delft. Together we are working on a radical new technology with world-changing potential. We are developing scalable prototypes of a quantum computer and a secure quantum internet.

We believe quantum technology will be a game changer in many social and economic sectors, including health, agriculture, climate, and security. To achieve our ambitious goals, we bring scientists, engineers, and industry together in an inspiring environment, with plenty of room for ambition, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5 year contract includes an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel to help prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by candidates, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process.