Quantum computer in a single chip, can you believe it?

Quantum computer in a single chip, can you believe it

Dutch computing company QuTech with chip maker Intel, announced to unveil  its first programmable two-qubit quantum computer on silicon chips.The innovation can offer a capability for computers which can not be performed by normal computers.

QuTech announced this in a blog post — “The quantum computer of the future will be a game changer in the area of large and intensive calculations. By using quantum superpositions and entanglement of quantum bits (qubits) calculations can be performed in parallel.”

Scientists from Qutech performed the Deutsch-Josza algorithm on the new two-qubit quantum chip. This algorithm helps determine whether a function is odd or even. The Grover-Search algorithm was also performed, which curates the right answer in one go from an unsorted set of options.

“In order to be able to execute more complex algorithms, we will develop silicon quantum chips with more qubits, both in the Delft cleanrooms and in industrial cleanrooms with our partner Intel,” said Lieven Vandersypen, Professor at QuTech.

Quantum technology makes a great leap forward. While scientists can control a few qubits with great reliability, it doesn’t yet look like a real computer. Useful quantum chips require programmability: the ability to perform an arbitrary set of operations. Scientists from QuTech in Delft have now realised a programmable two-qubit quantum processor in silicon successfully implementing two quantum algorithms. They have published their work in the magazine Nature.

The scientists from QuTech and the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft in the team of Lieven Vandersypen, and their collaborators from the University of Wisconsin, focus on qubits in silicon chips.

These qubits are created by ‘dialing in’ a few electrons using controlled electrical signals. Silicon is a promising material: it is fully developed by the current computer industry and naturally causes little disruption to our qubits. “silicon quantum chips are very similar to industrial classic computer chips and the qubits can be controlled fully electronically.” Lieven Vandersypen said.

Despite Quantum computing is in its infancy, recently scientists are made numerous successful achievement in this field. In october 2017, Intel fastens its Quantum Computing development with 17-Qubit chip, then in Nov 2017, IBM reached to Quantum supremacy with its 50-Qubit computers.

This invention is a big technological achievement and we are hoping it to come out of the laboratory and available for the users soon. It is also expected that soon Quantum computers will reach to 100-Qubits.