A quantum computer is like a musical instrument: even a tiny scratch on a string ruins the sound. Instead of strings, we have superconducting resonators — thin traces of titanium nitride on a silicon wafer. They are meant to store quantum information, but any imperfection or stray atom on the surface saps energy, just as a crack in a bell dampens its ring.
The authors made resonators on standard 200-millimeter wafers, like those used in conventional microelectronics. They varied the film deposition conditions and etching methods. It turned out that the crystal orientation of titanium nitride has almost no effect on losses. The main enemy is a thin oxide layer that forms on the surface after processing. If you remove it with a special solution, losses drop to record-low values.
This result matters for mass-producing quantum chips: now you can use standard equipment and still get resonators with very low losses. It's a step toward making quantum computers more reliable and cheaper.
Titanium is the ninth most abundant element in Earth's crust, and titanium nitride is used not only in electronics but also for the gold-colored coating on drill bits and medical implants.
In the series "The Expanse," superconducting coils protect ships from radiation — without precise surface control, such coils wouldn't work for a second.