Quantum computer helps design a bet-
ter quantum computer
Matthew Sparkes
A QUANTUM computer has Peter Knight at Imperial College replacing transmon qubits
been used to design an improved London says the concept is in- with plasonium qubits will
quantum bit, or qubit, that could triguing and also intuitive. allow today’s large processors
power the next generation of “If you think about a classical to be miniaturised. This will
quantum computers. Using the machine that’s trying to simulate be key because future quantum
new qubit, it should be possible a quantum processor, it’s hard computers will need to scale
to build quantum computers that work. So it’s obvious that once up from containing dozens
are smaller, higher-performance you’ve got a quantum processor, of qubits, as most do today, to
and more reliable. you’d see if you can use it for having the millions or billions
As classical computer chips that purpose. Already it’s given required to carry out useful tasks.
became more complex, it quickly them some new insights.” Reducing “noise” in quantum
became impractical to design Knight says that the new qubit computers is another vital hurdle
them manually. For decades, it design offers advantages but between current machines and
has instead been commonplace to also, crucially, reduces several more powerful, useful quantum
use computers themselves to help computers. Crucially, the
inconvenient features of current
optimise new chip designs for plasonium is also less noisy than
generation circuits.
the next generation of computers. the group’s existing transmon
To invent the plasonium,
But it is unfeasible to simulate qubit. In a classical computer,
the team used an algorithm
the operation of all but the noise can come from a “bit flip”
called a variational quantum
simplest quantum processor when a single bit encounters
eigensolver, which is often used
inside a classical computer. This is an error, generally caused by
in quantum chemistry to calculate
because the computing resources interaction with a stray charged
the energy levels of molecules.
required grow exponentially particle passing through the
This allowed the group to simulate
as each new qubit is added. computer. It is possible to reduce
the behaviour of particles in
Now, Chao-Yang Lu at the this problem in the design stage
quantum circuits and iron out
University of Science and of a classical bit, but designing out
negative properties while
Technology of China and his similar noise issues in a quantum
colleagues have used a quantum bit has been challenging. The new
algorithm to run the simulations. “It’s obvious that once approach makes it easier. ❚
So far, the research has led to you’ve got a quantum
the development of a new type processor, you’d see if you
of qubit, the quantum version can use it for that purpose”
of a classical bit, which can exist
in a mixture of a 0 and 1 state until developing positive features,
it is measured and settles on one. all while avoiding the laborious
The new qubit, dubbed a process of building vast numbers
plasonium, is smaller, less of physical prototypes ([Link]/
noisy and able to retain its state abs/2109.00994).
longer than the group’s current The plasonium qubits are
qubit design. The team believes each only 240 micrometres
that the work opens the way to long, which is just 40 per cent
designing advanced quantum of the size of the team’s current
processors using existing generation qubit design, called
quantum machines. a transmon. This means that