HRL Laboratories has achieved a significant quantum computing milestone with a self-running quantum processor, detailed in Nature. Unlike traditional quantum computers requiring extensive external electronics, HRL developed a custom control chip that operates near the qubits at -450°F. This integrated system autonomously handles error correction, a critical function for future quantum computers, eliminating the need for real-time input from room-temperature electronics.

This innovation addresses a major hurdle in scaling quantum computing: managing the vast number of qubits without an overwhelming tangle of wires and devices. HRL's CMOS controller generates all necessary signals for their 18-qubit devices. A novel high-density superconducting ribbon cable efficiently transmits hundreds of control signals to the qubits while minimizing heat transfer, preserving their delicate quantum states. The system demonstrates control errors ten times lower than previous attempts with this qubit type, enhanced by a new fabrication process reducing device noise and improving reliability.

This architecture, designed for manufacturability on standard microchip production lines, aims to produce powerful quantum computers at a practical cost, potentially fitting within a single refrigerator. The results, matching theoretical models, suggest this approach is scalable. IBM has announced its intent to acquire HRL, aiming to accelerate advancements in quantum computing.