World Quantum Day – an annual day of celebrating and promoting awareness and understanding of quantum technology – was recently held on April 14th. With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at Quantum Computing. Quantum computing devices are built using “quantum bits” or qubits, which utilize a principle known as superposition; this allows qubits to hold both one and zero values simultaneously, unlike traditional bits. When grouped, qubits can exhibit a fascinating phenomenon called entanglement, enabling them to interact in complex ways. By harnessing these quantum properties, systems based ..read more

FormFactor will be attending the SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing conference, April 21 – April 25, in National Harbor, Maryland. At the show – Booth #327 – we’ll be featuring our wafer test solutions for IR sensors, which include the PLC50, the PMC200, and the PAC200. PLC50 – 100 mm manual cryogenic probe system The PLC50 probe system is the most cost-effective and simple, yet highly-precise probing solution for wafers and substrates up to 80 mm at cryogenic temperatures. Specially designed for laboratory requirements, it supports a wide range of applications, including I-V, C-V and RF, and c ..read more

The growth in AI (such as ChatGPT and BING AI) is requiring large investments into the expansion of data centers, driving higher and higher data rates in IO devices.  In order to reach these data rates, wafer test is moving to bandwidth > 60 GHz. That said there are some challenges with high-speed wafer test, including considerations related to probe aging. In his COMPASS presentation, Pratik Ghate, Ph.D., Principal RF Engineer at FormFactor, discussed Pyramid Probes, RF calibration, and probe aging considerations in high-volume manufacturing for high-speed IO devices. By examining mar ..read more

FormFactor is thrilled to share that it has been honored with Intel’s EPIC Distinguished Supplier Award. This recognition comes as a result of FormFactor’s commitment to Excellence, Partnership, Inclusion, and Continuous (EPIC) quality enhancement, leading to a standard of performance that surpasses Intel’s expectations on a consistent basis. The Intel EPIC Distinguished Supplier Award is given in recognition of consistently exceptional performance across all evaluation metrics. Among the thousands of Intel suppliers globally, merely a select few hundred are eligible to be part of the EPIC Sup ..read more

The field of Silicon Photonics (SiPh) is progressing rapidly, bringing forth fresh possibilities and engineering hurdles. As SiPh technology progresses, achieving precision and efficiency is crucial for groundbreaking developments. At FormFactor, we’re well aware of the complex requirements SiPh research and development entail. With SiPh pushing the boundaries of photonic test and measurement down to the wafer- and die-level, accurate positioning of optical fibers in three-dimensional space is more essential than ever. This is why we are excited to unveil our state-of-the-art SiPh product rang ..read more

FormFactor’s Brandon Boiko presented Cryogenic Microwave Wafer-Scale Characterization of Superconducting Resonators for Improved Fabrication Yield at the APS March Meeting this week. Here’s an overview of that presentation. Superconducting resonators play an essential role in the readout and protection of qubits, featuring various designs such as lumped element resonators with separate inductive and capacitive components, distributed element resonators with meandering coplanar waveguides (CPW), or 3D cavity resonators. CPW resonators, in particular, are frequently employed to connect qubits wi ..read more

FormFactor, in collaboration with Tabor Electronics LLC, announced the Echo-5Q project, showcasing a comprehensive 5-Qubit Quantum Computer aimed at research and education sectors, utilizing a Quantum Processing Unit (QPU) provided by QuantWare. This joint venture highlights the capacity of the involved companies to bolster the quantum computing industry through their distinct technologies. The integrated Quantum Computer exhibits a remarkable 250% enhancement in T1 relaxation times over comparable small-scale systems, leading to improved qubit fidelity and an increased number of quantum opera ..read more

5G, known as the fifth-generation wireless technology, represents the newest advancement in mobile network technology, designed to deliver enhanced speed and reliability for mobile and other internet-connected devices. It improves upon the foundations laid by earlier generations, providing notable advancements in data transmission speeds, reduced latency, and increased network capacity. While there are advantages of 5G at millimeter wave frequencies, such as high data speeds, low latency, increased capacity, and enhanced user experience, there are some challenges.  These frequencies offer ..read more

The push for better energy efficiency in systems, vehicles, consumer appliances, portable electronics, and new integrations with the Internet of Things is fueling ongoing improvements in power semiconductor devices, leading to an annual increase in demand that consistently reaches new record highs. Consequently, companies and foundries worldwide are expanding their testing capabilities in R&D, production of high-performance devices, and high-volume general manufacturing. Efforts to develop next-generation power devices are accelerating, aimed at reducing costs for end-users and meeting the ..read more

Join us in Sydney, Australia February 20-22 for Quantum Australia Conference and Careers Fair. There are a number of great speakers lined up for the show and we’ll be hosting a table on the conference floor. Look for us! Then March 3-8 in Minneapolis we’ll be attending the American Physical Society’s (APS) March Meeting 2024. We’ll be hosting Happy Hour at our booth #1010 on Tuesday, March 5th from 4-5 pm. We’ll also be showcasing our portfolio of cryogenic test and measurement solutions: Cryogen-free Dilution Refrigerators and He-3 Sub Kelvin Cryostats: FormFactor is the largest commercial d ..read more