Millions of qubits on a single chip now possible after cryogenic breakthrough
Scientists have developed a new type of computer chip which removes a major obstacle to quantum computers, allowing the first time to place millions of quit and their control systems on the same device.
The new control chip operates at cryogenic temperatures near absolute zero (About 459.67 degrees Fahrenheit, or less 273.15 degrees Celsius) and, above all, can be placed near quit without disturbing their quantum state.
“This result has been more than a decade of manufacturing, strengthening know-how to design electronic systems that dissipate tiny amounts of power and work near Absolute Zero,” said the main researcher David ReillyProfessor of the University of Sydney Nano Institute and the School of Physics, said in a statement.
Scientists have described the result as a “vital proof of the principle” for the integration of quantum and classic components in the same chip – a major step towards the type of practical and evolving processors necessary to make quantum computer science a reality. The researchers published their results on June 25 in the journal Nature.
Qubits are the quantum Equivalent of binary bits found in classic computers today. However, when a classic bit can represent 0 or 1, a qubit may exist in a “overlap“Of the two states. This allows quantum computers to perform several calculations in parallel, which makes them capable of solving problems far beyond the scope of computers today.
In relation: Quantum computers which are in fact useful at 1 step more thanks to the new silicon processor which could pack millions of qubits
Spin qubits, a type of qubit that code information the spin state of an electron, have bitten the interest of scientists because they can be built using Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology.
This is the same process used to make fleas found inside modern smartphones and PCs. In theory, this makes spin qubits much easier to produce on a large scale because it slips into normal manufacturing methods.
Other quantum computers use different types of qubits, including superconductor,, photonics Or trap Qubits. But unlike these other types, spin qubits can be made on a large scale using existing equipment.
However, spin qubits should be kept at temperatures below 1 Kelvin (just above absolute zero) to preserve “coherence”. It is the ability of a qubit to maintain the superposition and tangle Over time, and what is necessary to unlock the parallel processing power which makes quantum computers so promising. Spin qubits also need electronic equipment to measure and control their activity.
“This will take us from the domain of quantum computers being fascinating laboratory machines at the stage where we can start discovering the problems of the real world that these devices can solve for humanity,” added Reilly.
The road to a million skittle chip
The integration of electronics required to control and measure spin qubits has long posed a challenge, because even small amounts of heat or electric interference can disturb the fragile quantum state of qubits.
But this new personalized CMOS chip is designed to operate in cryogenic environments and at ultra-basic power levels, which means that it can be integrated into a chip alongside qubits without introducing a thermal or electric noise which otherwise interrupted consistency.
In the tests, the researchers carried out door operations to a single gate and two qubit with the command chip positioned at less than 1 millimeter (0.04 inch) of qubits. The control chip has not introduced any measurable electrical noise and caused any drop in precision, stability or consistency, the researchers said.
In addition, the control chip consumed only 10 microwatts (0.00001 watts) of power in total, with analog components – used to control qubit with electrical pulses – using 20 nanowatts (0.00000002 Watts) by Megahertz.
“This validates the hope that qubits can be checked on a large scale by integrating complex electronics into cryogenic temperatures,” said Reilly.
“This will take us from the domain of quantum computers being fascinating laboratory machines at the stage where we can start discovering the problems of the real world that these devices can solve for humanity,” he added.
“We see many various uses of this technology, covering short -term detection systems to data centers in the future.”
The results could more encourage the power of spin qubits.
“Now that we have shown that Milli-Kelvin Control does not degrade the performance of quantum doors to one and two qubit, we expect many will follow our example”, co-author of the study Kushal dasSenior equipment engineer at Emergence Quantum and researcher at the University of Sydney who designed the chip, in the press release.
“Fortunately for us, it is not so easy, but requires years to create know-how and expertise to design low noise cryogenic electronics that only need tiny amounts of power.”
