Each chip contains millions of microwave circulators.()
In the race to build better, cheaper and faster quantum computers, two Queensland researchers are leading the way.
Key points:
- Researchers say they are using all the features of quantum mechanics to enable new technologies
- The component is called a microwave circulator which acts as a “roundabout” for signals
- A new quantum industry would create jobs for Australia, the researchers say
They have managed to shrink a critical computing component from the size a match box down to a tenth of the width of a human hair — the size needed for quantum computing.
Better still, components that once cost thousands of dollars to buy can now be produced for a fraction of the cost — and quantum computers will need millions of them.
“So we’re in the midst of a second quantum revolution, where we’re taking all the parts of quantum mechanics and turning them from lab curiosities into working technologies that let us do things we couldn’t do up until now,” said Professor Andrew White from the University of Queensland’s (UQ) Centre for Engineer Quantum Systems.
“We’re using all the features of quantum mechanics … to enable new technologies.”
The full explanation is a lot more complicated, but the two UQ researchers have now managed to launch Queensland’s first Quantum Computing company that makes miniaturised components with real world applications.
A roundabout for microwave signals
The component is called a microwave circulator.
It is described as “a roundabout for microwave signals”, where the signal comes in and is re-routed to another direction.
Pioneered at UQ, the microscopic versions are being commercialised by the researchers under the business name Analogue Quantum Circuits.
“Analogue Quantum Circuits (AQC) are using quantum phenomena to shrink a microwave circulator,” Professor White said.
“(AQC) will get millions [of circulators] onto a chip, and they’ll cost cents to make.”
The parts are commonplace in communications technology, but traditionally cost a small fortune each.
Each microscopic component is made inside a special freezer that cools to 100 times colder than outer space.
Associate Professor Arkady Fedorov, a co-founder of AQC, says the numbers they deal in are tiny.
“These calculations are extremely fragile, so they simply don’t survive at room temperature,” Associate Professor Federov said.
“And this is the reason why we don’t see quantum effects in our everyday life.
“So to take advantage of that, we actually need to create conditions which are very, very special, and everything is extremely quiet.”
The super cold environment is needed to eliminate all noise and tiny vibrations that could disturb the manufacture of such small devices.
Queensland can be a ‘key player’ in the industry
Professor Tom Stace is the other co-founder of AQC and one of the researchers behind miniaturising the circulator.
He said Quantum computers needed to send and receive signals between quantum bits or qubits.
“We know that we need hundreds of thousands of qubits, or millions of qubits in order to make a scalable, useful quantum computer,” Professor Stace said.
“There needs to be millions of circulators to help the qubits talk to each other.
“We’re the first company that’s working internationally to commercialise that scientific research in circulators into a thing that can be used in future quantum computers.
“That means that Queensland, if we invest now, can be a key player in that industry over not just the next decade, but long into the future.”
Professor Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop from the Centre said it was exciting to see physics being turned into practical applications.
“It’s one thing to be clever and do new physics and publish fabulous paper(s), and another thing to actually get a gizmo going that will bring advances into technology and society,” Professor Rubinsztein-Dunlop said.
“We are creating industry, (a) new quantum industry for Australia and what it brings is a lot of jobs for society.”