IQM: Unimon – A New Qubit to Boost Quantum Computers for Useful Applications

A group of scientists from IQM Quantum Computers, Aalto University, and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have found a brand new superconducting qubit, the unimon, to enhance the accuracy of quantum computations. The staff has achieved the primary quantum logic gates with unimons at 99.9% constancy — a significant milestone on the search to construct commercially helpful quantum computer systems. This pivotal piece of analysis was simply printed within the journal Nature Communications.

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Figure. Artistic impression of a unimon qubit in a quantum processor. Credits: Aleksandr Kakinen. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Of all of the completely different approaches to construct helpful quantum computer systems, superconducting qubits are on the lead. However, the qubit designs and methods at the moment used don’t but present excessive sufficient efficiency for sensible functions. In this noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) period, the complexity of the implementable quantum computations is generally restricted by errors in single- and two-qubit quantum gates. The quantum computations want to develop into extra correct to be helpful.

“Our aim is to build quantum computers which deliver an advantage in solving real-world problems. Our announcement today is an important milestone for IQM and a significant achievement to build better superconducting quantum computers,” stated Mikko Möttönen, Joint Professor of Quantum Technology at Aalto University and VTT, and likewise a Co-Founder and Chief Scientist at IQM Quantum Computers, who was main the analysis.

Today, IQM has launched a brand new superconducting-qubit sort, the unimon, which unites in a single circuit the specified properties of elevated anharmonicity, full insensitivity to dc cost noise, lowered sensitivity to magnetic noise, and a easy construction consisting solely of a single Josephson junction in a resonator. The staff achieved fidelities from 99.8% to 99.9% for 13-nanoseconds-lengthy single-qubit gates on three completely different unimon qubits.

“Because of the higher anharmonicity, or non-linearity, than in transmons, we can operate the unimons faster, leading to fewer errors per operation,” stated Eric Hyyppä who’s engaged on his PhD at IQM.

To experimentally exhibit the unimon, the scientists designed and fabricated chips, every of which consisted of three unimon qubits. They used niobium because the superconducting materials other than the Josephson junctions, during which the superconducting leads have been fabricated utilizing aluminum.

“I would like to thank and congratulate Eric and the other team members who worked tirelessly for this major achievement,” stated Prof. Möttönen.

The staff measured the unimon qubit to have a comparatively excessive anharmonicity whereas requiring solely a single Josephson junction with none superinductors, and bearing safety towards noise. The geometric inductance of the unimon has the potential for greater predictability and yield than the junction-array-based mostly superinductors in typical fluxonium or quarton qubits.

“Unimons are so simple and yet have many advantages over transmons. The fact that the very first unimon ever made worked this well gives plenty of room for optimization and major breakthroughs. As next steps, we should optimize the design for even higher noise protection and demonstrate two-qubit gates,” added Prof. Möttönen.

IQM’s industrial quantum computer systems nonetheless use transmon qubits. With transmons, IQM already delivers on-premises quantum computer systems, for instance IQM is constructing Finland’s first 54-qubit quantum laptop as a part of a co-innovation undertaking with VTT Technical Research Center of Finland, and an IQM-led consortium Q-Exa can be constructing a 20-qubit quantum laptop in Germany, to be built-in to a supercomputer. The unimon invented now’s an alternate qubit which will lead to greater accuracy in quantum computations sooner or later.

“We aim for further improvements in the design, materials, and gate time of the unimon to break the 99.99% fidelity target for useful quantum advantage with noisy systems and efficient quantum error correction. This is a very exciting day for quantum computing!” concluded Prof. Möttönen.

About IQM Quantum Computers:

IQM is the pan-European chief in constructing quantum computer systems. IQM offers on-premises quantum computer systems for supercomputing knowledge facilities and analysis labs and affords full entry to its {hardware}. For industrial prospects, IQM strives for quantum benefit via a novel utility-particular, co-design strategy. IQM is constructing Finland’s first 54-qubit quantum laptop with VTT, and an IQM-led consortium (Q-Exa) can be constructing a quantum laptop in Germany. This laptop shall be built-in into an HPC supercomputer to create a quantum accelerator for future scientific analysis. IQM has over 200 workers with workplaces in Paris, Madrid, Munich, and Espoo.

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