HKU Scientists Build 10mK Brain-Inspired Chip for Quantum Computing and Deep Space
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · Jul 5
HKU Scientists Build 10mK Brain-Inspired Chip for Quantum Computing and Deep Space
2 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · Jul 5
Summary
A University of Hong Kong team demonstrated a programmable neuromorphic chip that mimics neuron-like electrical spiking at 10 millikelvin, using a single silicon carbide transistor near absolute zero.
The device targets a core quantum-computing bottleneck: today’s control electronics generate too much heat and must sit far from qubits, while HKU says its approach could be thousands of times more energy-efficient.
Below 2 kelvin, the researchers found standard SiC MOSFETs show a stable S-shaped negative differential resistance effect driven by electron-donor impact ionization, enabling reproducible cryogenic operation across manufacturing batches.
The team also cascaded the artificial neurons into larger networks, a step toward local cryogenic processing for quantum error correction and real-time quantum control.
Because silicon carbide is already produced in industrial foundries on 300-mm wafers, the platform could scale beyond quantum systems to electronics for the Moon and other deep-space environments.
Beyond electric cars, could a new 'cold' capability make Silicon Carbide the key to building large-scale quantum computers?
This brain-like chip thrives near absolute zero, but can it withstand the harsh radiation of deep space missions?
As AI's energy use soars, can a chip designed for quantum's cold solve our planet's data center heat problem?
10 Millikelvin SiC Neuromorphic Chips from HKU: Transforming Quantum Computing and Space Electronics
Overview
The University of Hong Kong (HKU), led by Professor Yuhao Zhang and PhD student Xin Yang, has developed a groundbreaking neuromorphic hardware platform, published in Nature Communications in March 2026. This innovative chip operates at an ultracold 10 millikelvin and uses a brain-inspired spiking architecture, making it robust and scalable. The team chose Silicon Carbide (SiC) for its chips, a material already common in industries like electric vehicles and power grids. By leveraging existing industrial infrastructure, HKU can produce these advanced chips efficiently, paving the way for major advances in quantum computing and deep-space electronics.