Quiescent power consumption of carbon-based analog operational amplifiers at low temperatures

Abstract

In modern integrated circuit systems, quiescent power consumption increases with higher integration density, posing a fundamental limitation for further integration scaling. This challenge becomes even more critical in cryogenic environments, such as superconducting quantum computing and space exploration applications, where ultralow quiescent power consumption is essential for maintaining reliable circuit operation at extremely low temperatures. Using the unique low-temperature electrical properties of carbon nanotube materials, we fabricated a carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (CNT-FET) that exhibits significantly reduced currents under cryogenic conditions. These carbon-based FETs were implemented to construct a carbon nanotube analog operating amplifier (CNT-OPA). Comprehensive experimental characterization across a wide temperature range (293–10 K) revealed that the CNT-OPA's quiescent power consumption decreases at cryogenic temperatures without any degradation in the gain performance. These results demonstrate the strong potential of carbon-based analog amplifiers for cryogenic electronic applications, particularly in superconducting quantum computing systems and space electronics where conventional silicon-based devices face fundamental limitations.