It is quite conventional that the working of classical computers is affected immensely by heat and one might have come across this situation in their lives when their computer failed to function properly due to excessive heating.

But what about quantum computers? Do thermodynamical factors influence the workings of a quantum computing device? Well, the answer is yes, quantum computers operate using quantum bits or qubits that essentially are in a superposed state exchanging information in binary code. An interesting fact about qubits is that they not only exchange information using 0 and 1 but also intermediate values between 0 and 1. These qubits are very sensitive, in that excessive heat generation could cause work-related defects which in a sense can cause harm to the device as a whole. Another crucial point is that in order to retrieve significant information from the qubit system, the associated quantum states must be dismantled and this could possibly impact the quantum system heavily in a negative manner as the process would be exothermic.

In recent work, physicists have investigated the thermodynamic effects caused by superconducting quantum systems [1]. The method involves the employment of a Josephson junction which essentially operates on the Josephson effect, an example of macroscopic quantum phenomena wherein a supercurrent flows between two superconductors placed end-to-end or in close proximity to each other. The principal usability of a Josephson junction is to store quantum information. Using superconductors is a plus because it helps enhance the efficiency of the qubits.