On-chip thermometry at millikelvin temperatures for quantum-classical electronics co-integration

Imec India Private Limited; Vlaams-Brabant; Sur place; EUR 12 000 - 17 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Imec invites a Master internship in Leuven to explore on-chip thermometry at millikelvin temperatures for quantum-classical electronics co-integration. You will perform cryogenic electrical measurements in a dilution refrigerator, down to 10 mK, and study CMOS-compatible thermometry techniques using diodes or BJTs.

The project includes developing calibration and measurement protocols, quantifying thermal effects on local chip temperature, and supporting integration with future quantum

Qualifications

• Nanoscience & Nanotechnology background required
• Electrotechnics / Electrical Engineering background required
• Physics background required

Responsabilités

• Carry out cryogenic electrical measurements in a dilution refrigerator down to 10 mK
• Develop calibration and measurement protocols for local temperature extraction
• Quantify thermal effects for integration with quantum processors

Formation

Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Electrotechnics/Electrical Engineering

Physics

Description du poste

/ On-chip thermometry at millikelvin temperatures for quantum-classical electronics co-integration

On-chip thermometry at millikelvin temperatures for quantum-classical electronics co-integration

Master internship - Leuven | More than two weeks ago

Probe temperature on cryogenic CMOS electronics close to absolute zero to enable scalable quantum computing applications

Quantumcomputing has the potential to revolutionize information processing byperforming computations beyond the reach of classical computers. This willrequire the operation of quantum processors containing millions of extremelysensitive qubits, located inside dilution refrigerators and operated at temperaturesnear 10 millikelvin. Current experimental systems, however, are limited to onlya few hundred qubits. This is due in part to the input-output bottleneck, whichgreatly limits qubit control at scale.

Cryogenic CMOScircuits, closely integrated with quantum circuits, have been proposed as asolution to alleviate this input-output bottleneck and allow for the operationof large-scale quantum processors [1]. Achieving this is especiallychallenging, due to the extremely stringent thermal and noise requirements ofquantum bits and of the cryogenic environment. Accurate temperature sensing istherefore critical for the characterization, validation and optimization of suchchips at deep cryogenic temperatures. However, conventional temperature sensorsoften lack the required sensitivity or resolution and cannot be directlyintegrated on CMOS chips for characterization.

In this Masterthesis, you will investigate CMOS-compatible on-chip thermometry techniquessuitable for millikelvin temperatures, with a focus on semiconductor devicessuch as diodes or bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) [2]. This work will consistof cryogenic electrical measurements in a dilution refrigerator, performed attemperatures down to 10 mK. It could include the development of calibration andmeasurement protocols for the accurate extraction of the local temperature atdifferent areas of a chip. The thesis aims to quantify the impact of cryogeniccircuits operating in different modes on the local temperature, both within andoutside the chip, and to assess the relevance of thermal effects for closerintegration with quantum processors.

Requiredbackground: Electrical engineering, Physics

Type of work: 20%literature, 40% measurements and experiments, 40% data analysis

Promotor: BartSoree

Required educational background: Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Electrotechnics/Electrical Engineering, Physics

University promotor: Bart Soree (KU Leuven)

The reference code for this position is 2026-INT-103. Mention this reference code in your application.

Only for self-supporting students.

Quantumcomputing has the potential to revolutionize information processing byperforming computations beyond the reach of classical computers. This willrequire the operation of quantum processors containing millions of extremelysensitive qubits, located inside dilution refrigerators and operated at temperaturesnear 10 millikelvin. Current experimental systems, however, are limited to onlya few hundred qubits. This is due in part to the input-output bottleneck, whichgreatly limits qubit control at scale.

Cryogenic CMOScircuits, closely integrated with quantum circuits, have been proposed as asolution to alleviate this input-output bottleneck and allow for the operationof large-scale quantum processors [1]. Achieving this is especiallychallenging, due to the extremely stringent thermal and noise requirements ofquantum bits and of the cryogenic environment. Accurate temperature sensing istherefore critical for the characterization, validation and optimization of suchchips at deep cryogenic temperatures. However, conventional temperature sensorsoften lack the required sensitivity or resolution and cannot be directlyintegrated on CMOS chips for characterization.

In this Masterthesis, you will investigate CMOS-compatible on-chip thermometry techniquessuitable for millikelvin temperatures, with a focus on semiconductor devicessuch as diodes or bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) [2]. This work will consistof cryogenic electrical measurements in a dilution refrigerator, performed attemperatures down to 10 mK. It could include the development of calibration andmeasurement protocols for the accurate extraction of the local temperature atdifferent areas of a chip. The thesis aims to quantify the impact of cryogeniccircuits operating in different modes on the local temperature, both within andoutside the chip, and to assess the relevance of thermal effects for closerintegration with quantum processors.

Requiredbackground: Electrical engineering, Physics

Type of work: 20%literature, 40% measurements and experiments, 40% data analysis

Promotor: BartSoree

Daily advisors: LiamFallik, Anton Potočnik

References:

[1] Potočnik, A. How to scale theelectronic control systems of a quantum computer. Nat Electron 8, 3–4 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41928-024-01331-9

[2] GraysonM. Noah et. al. CMOS on-chip thermometry at deepcryogenic temperatures. Appl. Phys. Rev. 11, 021414 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0190040

Type of internship: Master internship

Duration: 9 months (Oct-June)

Required educational background: Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Electrotechnics/Electrical Engineering, Physics

University promotor: Bart Soree (KU Leuven)

Supervising scientist(s): For further information or for application, please contact Liam Fallik ([e-mail] ) and Anton Potocnik ([e-mail] )

The reference code for this position is 2026-INT-103. Mention this reference code in your application.

Only for self-supporting students.

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