Two research groups build ultra-accurate quantum computing qubits from a pair of distinct materials.
Computing, whether it’s digital or quantum, requires one fundamental factor: absolutely error-free accuracy. While the former tech has been delivering that level of performance for decades, quantum computing (QC) is still playing catch-up. However two labs, both at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), recently put QC reliability on the fast track by developing qubits that can process data with greater than 99% accuracy.
The UNSW’s first new method for building qubits borrows a bit of technology from contemporary machines. Using a design similar to the silicon transistors in today’s computers, Professor Andrew Dzurak built a reliable artificial atom qubit.
Though more exotic than its silicon counterpart, the second new qubit design uses a “natural” phosphorus atom at its core. Though in actuality this atom contains two qubits.
“The phosphorus atom contains in fact two qubits: the electron and the nucleus. With the nucleus in particular, we have achieved accuracy close to 99.99%,” said Dr. Juha Muhonen, lead researcher on the phosphorus qubit project.
Though the two materials for building these ultra-exact qubits are different, they both use a specially purified silicon-28 isotope envelope. Once inside their inert and non-magnetic silicon fold both qubits can be put to work delivering outstanding results.
With two methods for building an accurate quantum computer in hand, researchers will now turn their efforts towards scaling the systems. Given the international need, and competition for, large supercomputing systems the race is on to scale this pair of novel qubits in short order.
Who knows, maybe sometime in the next 5-10 years a fully functional quantum computer will predict weather patterns, simulate nuclear reactions and identify prime numbers well into the millinillions.
Image and Video Courtesy of University of New South Wales