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Individual electrons trapped and controlled above 1 K, easing cooling limits for quantum computing

Sensing and control of single trapped electrons above 1 K
(a) Schematic cross section of a microchannel filled with superfluid helium. (b) Schematic circuit diagram and false-color SEM image of the electron trap. (c) Results of FEM calculation of the electrostatic potential φ(x,y) in the plane of the helium surface. Credit: Âé¶¹ÒùÔºical Review X (2025). DOI: 10.1103/vcl7-73ms

Researchers from EeroQ, the quantum computing company pioneering electron-on-helium technology, have a paper, titled "Sensing and Control of Single Trapped Electrons Above 1 Kelvin," in Âé¶¹ÒùÔºical Review X that details a significant milestone: the first demonstration of controlling and detecting individual electrons trapped on superfluid helium at temperatures above 1 Kelvin. This work was achieved using on-chip superconducting microwave circuits, a method compatible with existing quantum hardware.

Quantum computers today typically require operation at ultra-low temperatures near 10 millikelvin, creating severe challenges in scaling due to heat dissipation. By showing that individual electrons can be trapped and controlled at temperatures more than 100 times higher (above 1 Kelvin), EeroQ's results open a new pathway toward larger and more practical quantum processors.

The findings also validate long-standing theoretical predictions that electrons on helium can provide exceptionally pure and long-lived qubits, while reducing the extreme cooling demands that limit other approaches.

"This breakthrough confirms that electron-on-helium qubits can potentially be manipulated and read out at higher temperatures than previously thought possible, reducing a key barrier to scalable quantum computing," said Johannes Pollanen, cofounder and chief science officer at EeroQ. "Publishing in PRX underscores both the scientific rigor and the industry importance of this advance."

EeroQ's approach—floating single electrons on —leverages one of the purest environments in physics to enable stable, long-coherence qubits. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Chicago, the company brings together expertise in physics, engineering, and nanofabrication to translate this research into scalable processors. By integrating the electron-on-helium platform with standard superconducting circuits, EeroQ aims to build quantum computers that are both powerful and practical to operate.

More information: K. E. Castoria et al, Sensing and Control of Single Trapped Electrons above 1 K, Âé¶¹ÒùÔºical Review X (2025).

Journal information: Âé¶¹ÒùÔºical Review X

Provided by EeroQ

Citation: Individual electrons trapped and controlled above 1 K, easing cooling limits for quantum computing (2025, October 9) retrieved 9 October 2025 from /news/2025-10-individual-electrons-easing-cooling-limits.html
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