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DelftX: Development and Applications of Germanium Quantum Technologies

Unravel the physics behind Germanium qubits, their fabrication process, control, and applications. Learn how to apply machine learning for auto-tuning, and how to perform quantum error correction and quantum algorithms.

Development and Applications of Germanium Quantum Technologies
6 weeks
6–7 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available

There is one session available:

After a course session ends, it will be archivedOpens in a new tab.
Starts May 3
Ends Jul 31

About this course

Skip About this course

In the race towards a fault-tolerant quantum computer, the semiconducting qubit platform is the only one that has, thus far, been shown to be scalable. Germanium qubits are a new type of semiconducting qubits, and their progress has been exceptionally fast since the development of the material in 2018.
You will learn about the physics behind Germanium qubits, their advantages, and challenges compared to other qubit platforms, and the electrical components that are needed to control them. In addition, you will familiarize yourself with different companies from the semiconducting industry, the fabrication facilities, and the latest developments in the field.

This course is a collaboration between several parties, all of whom have state-of-the-art facilities for fabrication, control, or applications using Germanium qubits. By taking this course you will have the opportunity to learn about Germanium qubits from professionals in the field who are conducting innovative research that is not being done elsewhere.

The course is a journey of discovery, so we encourage you to bring your own experiences, insights, and thoughts via the forum!

At a glance

  • Institution: DelftX
  • Subject: Computer Science
  • Level: Advanced
  • Prerequisites:

    Courses on Edx.org:

    • Fundamentals of Quantum Information
    • The Hardware of a Quantum Computer

    A prior knowledge of different fabrication methods.

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated programs:
  • Associated skills:Electronic Components, Innovation, Error Detection And Correction, Germanium, Physics, Research, Legal Discovery, Fault Tolerance, Scalability, Machine Learning

What you'll learn

Skip What you'll learn
  • Understand the physics behind Germanium qubits and their advantages and challenges.
  • Learn how Germanium qubits can be controlled and how this process can be automatized using machine learning.
  • Familiarize yourself with different companies in the semiconducting industry and their facilities.
  • Identify how quantum algorithms and quantum error correction can be performed using Germanium qubits.

WEEK 1: Semiconductor devices and materials

  • Semiconductor devices - industrial approach
    • What can CMOS technology do for quantum computing?
    • Semiconductor devices and their scaling using the industrial approach
    • Semiconductor foundry facilities: the good and the bad for qubits
    • IMEC's latest qubit developments
    • Summary and outlook
  • Semiconductor materials - structure and growth
    • Semiconductors for spin qubits
    • Germanium quantum wells on silicon
    • Germanium quantum wells on silicon-germanium
    • Growth methods
    • Characterization techniques

WEEK 2: Germanium qubits

  • Quantum dot qubits and Germanium physics
  • Germanium qubits - single spin and scaling
  • Germanium qubits - multi-spin encodings
    • Physics of holes
    • Hole spin qubits
  • Mid-term exam (multiple choice)

WEEK 3: Tuning quantum dots

  • Electronics for quantum computing
    • Introduction to electronics for quantum computing
    • Room temperature electronics
    • Cryogenic qubit chip carriers
    • Contribution to IGNITE
  • Quantum dots auto-tuning - experimental
    • Auto-tuning a quantum computer
    • Tuning and operation of arrays
    • Finding operation points example
  • Quantum dots auto-tuning - theor
    • What is auto-tuning?
    • Neural network tuning
    • Navigating charge stability diagrams
    • Experimental implementation
    • Towards universal quantum algorithms

WEEK 4: Quantum error correction and quantum algorithms

  • Quantum error correction
    • Classical error correction
    • Quantum error correction
    • Progress and challenges
  • Quantum algorithms
    • Introduction to quantum algorithms
    • The first algorithms
    • Quantum annealing
    • Quantum machine learning

WEEK 5:

  • Final exam (multiple choice)

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. edX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

This course is part of Quantum 301: Quantum Computing with Semiconductor Technology Professional Certificate Program

Learn more 
Expert instruction
2 skill-building courses
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
3 months
6 - 7 hours per week

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