Architecture combines quantum modules for scalable computers
Researchers in the UK have developed a way to combine quantum computing modules to build two large computer systems in Germany.
Trapped ion quantum chips currently provide around 100 qubits on a chip but there are challenges to scaling the technology. A technique called ‘UQ Connect’ uses electric field links to enable qubits to move from one quantum computing chip module to another. This allows chips to slot together like a jigsaw puzzle to make more scalable quantum computers.
The technique was developed by Dr Mariam Akhtar, Research Fellow at the University of Sussex, and Professor Winfried Hensinger, Professor of Quantum Technologies at the University and Chief Scientist and Co-founder at startup Universal Quantum.
A paper in Nature Communications published today demonstrates successful transport of qubits with a 99.999993% success rate and a connection rate of 2424/s, both numbers are world records and orders of magnitude better than previous solutions.
“The team has demonstrated fast and coherent ion transfer using quantum matter links. This experiment validates the unique architecture that Universal Quantum has been developing – providing an exciting route towards truly large-scale quantum computing,” said Akhtar.
“As quantum computers grow, we will eventually be constrained by the size of the microchip, which limits the number of quantum bits such a chip can accommodate,” said Hensinger.
“As such, we knew a modular approach was key to make quantum computers powerful enough to solve step-changing industry problems. In demonstrating that we can connect two quantum computing chips – a bit like a jigsaw puzzle – and, crucially, that it works so well, we unlock the potential to scale-up by connecting hundreds or even thousands of quantum computing microchips,” he said.
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Universal Quantum will deploy the UQ Connect approach in a €67m project with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to build two quantum computers.
“The DLR contract was likely one of the largest government quantum computing contracts ever handed out to a single company,” said Dr Sebastian Weidt, CEO and Co-founder of Universal Quantum, and Senior Lecturer in Quantum Technologies at the University of Sussex.
“This is a huge validation of our technology. Universal Quantum is now working hard to deploy this technology in our upcoming commercial machines.”
The paper is at www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-35285-3
Other quantum computer articles
- Swedish quantum computer boost for industry
- First room-temperature quantum computer in supercomputing centre
- €14m photonic quantum computer for German Aerospace Centre
- Open design for large scale quantum computer
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