The conversation explores the practical realities of building spin qubit devices, from material imperfections and device variability to the difficulty of controlling millions of qubits. Mats and Max discuss their work on conveyor-style spin-qubit shuttling and T-junction architectures for routing qubits in two dimensions, explaining how moving electrons across a chip can enable scalable designs while introducing new challenges such as valley splitting and decoherence. They also discuss the surprising material physics that emerges when quantum informations starts to move.
The episode also examines how these research ideas are transitioning into real-world technology through the startup Arque Systems, highlighting the shift from academic prototypes to industrial-scale quantum hardware.
Listen to the full podcast episode with Lars Schreiber, Mats Volmer and Max Beer here or using your podcatcher.
0:00:04 Introduction & guest overview
0:02:04 Career journeys: from semiconductors to spin qubits
0:08:44 Life as an experimental quantum PhD student
0:11:32 Teaching quantum technology at RWTH Aachen
0:15:05 What is a spin qubit? Silicon vs Galium-Arsenide
0:21:01 Qubit encodings, scalability & conveyor-mode shuttling
0:31:38 Valley splitting: the key material challenge in silicon devices
0:43:05 Measuring spin states through coherent shuttling
0:52:18 T-junctions and 2D quantum routing architectures
1:05:31 From academic research to Arque Systems startup
1:09:26 Future outlook, lessons & advice for researchers
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