You might be hearing a lot about quantum computing nowadays but the world has yet to see a fully operational, powerful quantum computer that could perform large-scale calculations.
A big reason we haven’t been able to build one so far is that we don’t have the technology to keep quantum computers cool.
For instance, qubits, the fundamental unit of quantum computers require temperatures below 100 millikelvin (about -460 °F) to function. This is even colder than the temperatures in deep regions of outer space. However, without achieving such ultra-low temperatures, we can’t make a quantum system work.
Surprisingly, researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) have developed a 2D micrometer-sized thermoelectric device that can efficiently convert heat into electricity at temperatures suitable for qubits to operate.
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