The partnership between Menlo Microsystems and Purdue University in Indiana, the US, has reached a milestone with a commercially-ready architecture for quantum control and readout electronics at cryogenic temperatures.
Their joint project presents a scaleable next-generation signal multiplexing architecture that addresses a critical bottleneck in quantum systems: the interconnect challenge between room-temperature electronics and cryogenic quantum processors. This was achieved by using cryogenically capable MEMS switch-based multiplexers to reduce wiring complexity, thermal load, and system cost, enabling high-fidelity communication between electronics and quantum bits (qubits). They used Menlo Micro’s cryogenic MEMS Ideal Switch platform, with the switch multiplexers reliably operated for over 100 million switching cycles.
“This study demonstrates how commercially available MEMS switch technology can be leveraged to solve key scalability challenges in quantum computing, accelerating the adoption of deployable, large-scale systems,” said Professor Luna Lu, vice president of Purdue’s Office of Industry Partnerships.
Beyond signal routing, the collaboration also demonstrated NAND and NOR logic gate operations at cryogenic temperatures using the same MEMS switch technology. This milestone shows that Menlo Micro’s switches can support digital logic functions directly within a cryogenic environment, enabling local control and decision-making closer to the quantum processor. For quantum system designers, the advantages of reduced wiring complexity and thermal load support the scalable architecture required for next-generation, large-scale quantum computers.
Purdue researchers characterized the platform at approximately 5.8 kelvin, measuring better than 0.5 dB insertion loss and 35 dB isolation, as well as dynamic switch response, including gate-drive techniques that eliminate switch bouncing. These results validated the reliability and repeatability of both multiplexing and logic operations, reinforcing the suitability of MEMS switches as key components in cryogenic multiplexers for current and future quantum systems.
