Studying sources of energy loss to make quantum computing gains

https://phys.org/news/2024-08-sources-energy-loss-quantum-gains.html

"compact device stores quantum information (coherence) for >1 ms...  improved coherence by coating tantalum with thin layer magnesium preventing oxidation... tantalum thin film, rather than aluminum thin film, reduced surface loss... heating sapphire substrate and letting it cool slowly (annealing) reduces bulk dielectric loss... developed energy loss model predicting device's coherence ime based on its constituent materials and circuit geometry, and optimized circuit geometry for longer coherence time"