Australian
researchers confirm the promise of silicon for quantum computing.
Australian researchers have measured the fidelity of
two-qubit logic operations in silicon for the first time ever, with highly
promising results that will allow a full-scale quantum processor to be scaled.
The research, conducted by the UNSW Engineering team of
Professor Andrew Dzurak, has been published in the world-renowned journalNature today. The true accuracy of such a two-qubit gate was unknown until this
landmark paper today.
Dzurak's team was the first to construct a quantum logic
gate in silicon in 2015, enabling calculations between two qubits of
information – and thus clearing up a crucial hurdle to make silicon quantum
computers a reality.
Important accuracy for success
of quantum computing
In this study, the team applied and conducted Clifford-based
fidelity benchmarking-a technique that can assess qubit accuracy across all
technology platforms-showing an average fidelity of 98 percent to two-qubit
gates.
“Most of important Quantum applications, millions of qubits
will be needed, and you're going to have to correct quantum errors, even when
they’re small,” Professor Dzurak says.
“The more accurate your qubits, the fewer you need – and
therefore, the sooner we can ramp up the engineering and manufacturing to
realise a full-scale quantum computer.”
Concrete
path to silicon in quantum computing
“If our fidelity value had been too low, it would have meant
serious problems for the future of silicon quantum computing. The fact that it
is near 99% puts it in the ballpark we need, and there are excellent prospects
for further improvement. Our results immediately show, as we predicted, that
silicon is a viable platform for full-scale quantum computing,” Professor
Dzurak says.
Recently published in Nature Electronics and featured on its
cover – where Dr. Yang is the lead author, the same team also recorded the
world's most accurate 1-qubit gate in a silicon quantum dot with a remarkable
99.96 percent fidelity.
“Besides the natural advantages of silicon qubits, one key
reason we’ve been able to achieve such impressive results is because of the
fantastic team we have here at UNSW. My student Wister and Dr Yang are both
incredibly talented. They personally conceived the complex protocols required
for this benchmarking experiment,” says Professor Dzurak.
UNSW Dean of Engineering, Professor Mark Hoffman, says “Quantum
computing is this century’s space race – and Sydney is leading the charge.”
“This milestone is another step towards realising a
large-scale quantum computer – and it reinforces the fact that silicon is an
extremely attractive approach that we believe will get UNSW there first.”
Professor Dzurak is leading a project with Silicon QuantumComputing, Australia's first quantum computing company, to advance silicon CMOS
qubit technology.
“Our latest result brings us closer to commercialising this
technology – my group is all about building a quantum chip that can be used for
real-world applications,” Professor Dzurak says.
The silicon qubit device used in this study was manufactured
entirely at UNSW using a unique silicon-CMOS process line, high-resolution
patterning systems, and supporting equipment made available by ANFF-NSW for
nanofabrication.
For more information in detail: Quantum world-first: researchers can now tellhow accurate two-qubit calculations in silicon really are
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