The world s first silicon quantum computer is born! Quantum Motion, UK, uses semiconductor processes to promote quantum computing

Quantum Motion, the new British quantum computing company, announced that it has created the world's first "silicon quantum computer" based on computer chip processing, and installed it in the UK National Quantum Computing Center (NQCC), with the goal of promoting vector production in the future.

System design and features

According to the official news, Quantum Motion uses a tileable architecture to densely arrange computing, reading and control circuits on silicon wafers. The entire system requires only three 19-inch server cabinets, which can also accommodate quantum processing unit (QPU), cooling equipment and control systems. It also supports mainstream software frameworks such as Qiskit and Cirq, allowing developers to write quantum programs directly on existing tools.

Differences with traditional quantum computers

This system uses 300mm CMOS process, which is the "Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor" (CMOS) technology used by all computers and mobile chips. It is known as high yield and large-scale production capabilities. In contrast, most of the current mainstream quantum computers rely on super-guided quantum bits (such as IBM, Google) or photonic qubits (such as PsiQuantum). These architectures need to rely on special materials and large equipment to maintain quantum conditions. Quantum Motion attempts to use commercial CMOS processes to construct qubits on silicon wafers so that quantum computers can be produced by commercial wafers like ordinary wafers.

Challenges between yield and cooling

Although the use of semiconductor processes has advantages in preparation, qubits are far more sensitive to complex and defects than traditional transistors. How to combine yield, coherence time and low error rate is still an actual challenge. At the same time, although the current stage cooling system has been reduced to the server specification, if the qubit is expanded to a million-level scale, the scale and energy consumption of the thin refrigerator may expand rapidly. The quantum computer has not really started running, and the cooling system may not be able to hold it back.

Quantum Motion The current system is still a preliminary trial. In the future, we still need to cross the technical gate to reach practical scale. The industry believes that although this new system is a milestone for silicon quantum computers, it is more like a prelude, and the real exam is about to begin.

Start-up hails world’s first quantum computer made from everyday silicon — fits in three 19-inch server racks and is touted as ‘quantum computing’s silicon moment’