"Revolutionizing Quantum Computing with Terahertz SNOM Microscope"

Scientists have used a terahertz scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) to detect flaws in nano Josephson Junctions (JJs), a key component in superconducting quantum computers. The terahertz SNOM microscope, developed at the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames National Laboratory, revealed a defective boundary in the nano JJ that disrupts conductivity and challenges the production of long coherence times necessary for quantum computation. The microscope's high-resolution imaging capabilities provide a non-destructive and contactless method for identifying effective boundaries in quantum circuit components. The research aims to improve the quality of quantum circuits and advance the understanding of qubits in quantum computing.