Quantum computers process information in a fundamentally different way from conventional computers, using quantum bits, or qubits, that can exist in multiple states at once. This could allow them to tackle problems beyond the reach of today’s machines, from simulating new materials to optimizing complex systems.

But to extract useful results from a quantum processor, researchers must reliably measure the state of each qubit, a task that remains one of the main bottlenecks in the field.

One of the leading approaches to building quantum computers uses superconducting circuits that carry current without resistance at extremely low temperatures.