Superconductivity and quantum computing have moved beyond theoretical research to capture the public’s imagination. The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics recognized breakthroughs in superconducting quantum circuits, a key step toward developing ultra-powerful computers. Yet many may not realize that such cutting-edge technologies typically function only at cryogenic temperatures, near absolute zero. Under these extreme conditions, most materials lose their defining physical properties, making practical progress a major challenge.
A recent study in Science by engineers at Stanford University highlights a material that could overcome this limitation: strontium titanate (STO). Unlike most substances, STO’s optical and mechanical properties not only endure the cold but actually improve, far exceeding the performance of comparable materials. The research team suggests that STO could serve as a foundation for a new generation of light-based and mechanical devices designed to operate in cryogenic environments, advancing fields such as quantum computing and space exploration.
Strontium titanate has electro-optic effects 40 times stronger than the most-used electro-optic material today. But it also works at cryogenic temperatures, which is beneficial for building quantum transducers and switches that are current bottlenecks in quantum technologies,” explained the study’s senior author Jelena Vuckovic, a professor of electrical engineering.
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