Test results show that quantum silicon bet from UNSW could pay off

Researchers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have announced the results of a test that they believe has brought the quantum computer closer to reality.

According to UNSW, researchers have highlighted an integrated platform of silicon quantum bits (qubit) combining both a single-spin addressing capability, which the university has explained to be the ability to write information on a single spin qubit without disturbing its neighbors, and a qubit-out reading ", which should be vital for quantum error correction.

"In addition, their new integrated design can be manufactured with the help of a well-established technology used in the existing IT industry," added UNSW.

Quantum computers will require millions of connected and integrated bits, and tests done by researchers have shown that it was possible to correct the errors that occur in fragile quantum systems.

There are five main hardware configurations for a quantum computer, and scientists around the world are trying to determine who will be the winner. UNSW launches into silicon.

Read also: Australia's ambitious plan to win the Quantum Race

The team, led by Professor Scientia Andrew Dzurak, published last year a new chip architecture project to perform quantum calculations using CMOS (complementary silicon-metal-oxide-semiconductor) components, which form the basis of all modern computer chips. .

The new study combines for the first time the two quantum techniques, which, according to UNSW, confirms the promises of its approach.

Dzurak's team had also already shown that an integrated silicon qubit platform could work with one-turn addressability, that is, the ability to spin a turn without turning its neighbors.

Read also: How the industry expects to secure information in a quantum world

According to UNSW, researchers have now demonstrated that they can combine addressability on a single spin with a special type of quantum reading process called Pauli spin blocking. UNSW said that Pauli's spin is a key requirement for the quantum error correction codes that will be needed to ensure accuracy in large quantum computers to spin.

"We demonstrated the ability to read Pauli's spin in our silicon qubit device, but for the first time we also combined it with spin resonance to control the spin," said Dzurak, head of the Program at the Center of Excellence in Quantum Computing and Communication Technology (CQC2T) and director of the NSW Node of the Australian National Manufacturing Facility.

"This is an important milestone for us on the path to quantum error correction with spin qubits, which will be essential for any universal quantum computer."

UNSW explained that this new combination of qubits reading and control techniques is an essential feature of quantum chip design As qubits are fragile and require constant error correction, the combination is also an essential requirement for creating a useful large-scale quantum computation. However, this creates a significant overload in the number of physical qubits necessary for the proper functioning of the system.

"By using silicon CMOS technology, we have the perfect platform to respond to the millions of qubits we will need, and our recent results provide us with the tools to get a qubit spin-off in a near future, "said Dzurak.

"This confirms once again that we are on the right track, and it also shows that the architecture we have developed at UNSW has so far shown no obstacle to development of a functional quantum computer chip. "

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