TCS & IIT-Bombay Partner to Develop India’s 1st Quantum Diamond Microchip Imager

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has entered a strategic partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-Bombay), to develop India’s first Quantum Diamond Microchip Imager. This advanced sensing tool aims to revolutionize the examination of semiconductor chips, reducing failures and enhancing the energy efficiency of electronic devices.

Collaboration Details

Over the next two years, experts from TCS will collaborate with Dr. Kasturi Saha, Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at IIT-Bombay. Their efforts will focus on developing the quantum imaging platform within the PQuest Lab. This partnership will leverage quantum sensing technology to enhance the quality control of semiconductor chips, thereby improving the reliability, safety, and energy efficiency of electrical devices.

Importance of Semiconductor Chips

Semiconductor chips are critical components in modern electronic devices, acting as the brain across various industries such as communications, computing, healthcare, military systems, transportation, and clean energy. The quantum diamond microchip imager can image magnetic fields, enabling non-invasive and non-destructive mapping of these chips, much like an MRI in medical applications.

Technological Innovation

The indigenous quantum diamond microchip imager will integrate quantum diamond microscopy with AI/ML-powered software imaging. This integration is expected to advance precision in chip examination, reduce chip failures, and improve energy efficiency. Such diagnostic capabilities will have significant implications for failure analysis, device development, and optimization processes by identifying defects like current leakages and enabling detailed visualizations.

Broader Impact

The collaboration aims to transform sectors including electronics and healthcare, aligning with the National Quantum Mission’s Quantum Sensing and Metrology vertical. TCS’s Chief Technology Officer, Harrick Vin, emphasized the transformative potential of this initiative across various industries and its alignment with the rapidly progressing Second Quantum Revolution.

Historical Context

TCS and IIT-Bombay have a long-standing collaborative history dating back to the 1990s. This latest partnership builds on their shared expertise and resources to push the boundaries of sensing, computing, and communication technologies, driving innovation and technological advancement in India.