Surrey Researchers Propose Superfluid Helium Qubit with Predicted 100-Fold Lower Error Rates
· TexaHub · Quantum, Technology Trends
A University of Surrey-led design for a charge-neutral qubit built on superfluid helium-3 is a theoretical proposal; the team now plans a prototype to test its predictions.
A design, not yet a device
Researchers at the University of Surrey have proposed a new kind of qubit based on superfluid helium, according to a release carried by ScienceDaily on 1 October [1]. The work is described in the paper "Towards a micromechanical qubit based on quantized oscillations in superfluid helium" by Priya Sharma, Jens Koch and Eran Ginossar, published in npj Quantum Information on 24 August 2026 (DOI: 10.1038/s41534-026-01355-3) [2]. Sharma and Ginossar are listed at the University of Surrey's School of Mathematics and Physics and Koch at Northwestern University's Department of Physics and Astronomy [2].
The paper is a theoretical proposal rather than an experimental demonstration [2][3]. Its abstract states: "We propose a quantum device, consisting of a superfluid weak link and a mechanical element" [2]. The university's release describes the work as "a conceptual design for a new type of qubit" and says the team is building a prototype "to test theoretical predictions" [3]. The device uses superfluid helium-3 rather than electrons trapped on a helium surface [1][2].
What the calculations predict
The authors treat superfluidity as "the charge-neutral analogue of superconductivity", noting that both dissipationless mass flow and Josephson tunnelling have been demonstrated in superfluid helium [2]. In the proposed device, called the Superfluid Helium Oscillator Quantum (SHOQ) device, the superfluid motion is quantised and the resulting energy levels are resolvable at millikelvin temperatures [1][2]. The abstract says the device "can potentially operate as a charge-neutral, superfluid quantum bit with micron-sized dimensions and millisecond-scale coherence time" [2].
Because the helium carries no electric charge, the researchers argue the design could be protected from some of the electromagnetic noise and stray charges that affect superconducting qubits [1][3]. The team's calculations predict error rates around 100 times lower than conventional superconducting qubits, and Surrey describes it as the first reported design for a superfluid-based qubit [1][3]. Sharma said: "The maths tells us that it should work. We have taken what we already know about superfluid helium and quantum technologies and turned that into an educated design, with the parameters and specifications needed to build one. The next step is to make a prototype and put those predictions to the test." [1]
Next steps and funding
The researchers say the SHOQ device could be coupled with existing superconducting hardware rather than replace it, with one longer-term option being its use as quantum memory [1][3]. Ginossar said: "If the predicted performance can be demonstrated experimentally, it could eventually work alongside existing superconducting technologies as part of a larger quantum system." [1] Koch was one of the researchers involved in developing the transmon, a widely used superconducting qubit design [1].
Prototype work is supported by an IAA Commercialisation Fellowship awarded to Sharma [1][3]. On 22 September the university also announced that Sharma had received £1.3 million through UK Research and Innovation's Future Leaders Fellowships to explore the SHOQ concept and progress towards commercialisation, with longer-term ambitions to secure patents and attract investment for a quantum hardware start-up [4].
Sources
[1] This new qubit could be 100 times less error-prone in superfluid quantum computer breakthrough — ScienceDaily (University of Surrey), 1 Oct 2026
[2] Towards a micromechanical qubit based on quantized oscillations in superfluid helium — npj Quantum Information, 24 Aug 2026
[3] Superfluid-based qubit design could be key to scaling up quantum computers — University of Surrey via EurekAlert!, 11 Sep 2026
[4] Surrey researchers awarded £2.7m Future Leaders Fellowships to advance quantum and language research — University of Surrey, 22 Sep 2026