Superfluid helium could offer a new way to tackle one of the biggest challenges in scaling up quantum computers, say researchers from the University of Surrey. The research team has introduced a conceptual design for a new type of qubit that could be much less vulnerable to errors.

Quantum computers use qubits to process information in ways that are not possible with conventional computers. One of today’s leading approaches relies on superconducting circuits, but these are extremely sensitive to electromagnetic noise and stray electrical charges—similar to the static electricity that makes hair stick to a balloon. Even tiny disturbances can cause errors and scramble the quantum information being held, making it difficult to scale up quantum computers while keeping error rates under control.