A compact and versatile cryogenic probe station for quantum device testing

Rev Sci Instrum. 2023 May 1;94(5):054707. doi: 10.1063/5.0139825.

Abstract

Fast feedback from cryogenic electrical characterization measurements is key for the development of scalable quantum computing technology. At room temperature, high-throughput device testing is accomplished with a probe-based solution, where electrical probes are repeatedly positioned onto devices for acquiring statistical data. In this work, we present a probe station that can be operated from room temperature down to below 2 K. Its small size makes it compatible with standard cryogenic measurement setups with a magnet. A large variety of electronic devices can be tested. Here, we demonstrate the performance of the prober by characterizing silicon fin field-effect transistors as a host for quantum dot spin qubits. Such a tool can massively accelerate the design-fabrication-measurement cycle and provide important feedback for process optimization toward building scalable quantum circuits.