Developing an error corrected quantum processor solution for commercial quantum computing

量子计算机将改变许多工业领域，从用于优化喷气发动机设计的主要空气动力学模拟，到人工智能、机器学习和数据经济，再到药物发现。量子计算机将像上个世纪传统计算机的发展一样改变游戏规则，因为它们将能够解决那些最快的超级计算机需要数十亿年才能解决的高影响问题。英国国家量子技术计划的主要目标是通过建立包括相关供应链在内的量子计算产业部门，将英国在开发实用量子计算机方面的学术卓越转化为经济繁荣。实现通用量子计算的最大挑战是扩展到具有数百万量子比特的容错机器。QCorrect开发的量子硬件将能够克服世界各地竞争对手面临的限制，推动英国成为商业量子计算的领导者。由于需要将微芯片冷却到-273C，基于超导量子比特的竞争平台可以实现的量子比特数量有限，而我们的平台基于捕获离子，不需要这样的冷却。我们的平台也适用于实现高效和可扩展的纠错算法，从而提高计算机的性能，同时降低硬件要求。这些因素的结合为开发具有更大量子比特数的系统提供了机会。全硅微芯片集成将允许创建自给自足的电子量子计算模块，并在项目期间为最终用户调查提供云访问。硬件/软件共同开发由系统集成商Universal Quantum和量子软件开发商Riverlane领导，以及真空系统（Edwards）和微波技术（TMD technologies, Diamond microwave）的领先子系统制造商在英国孵化量子计算供应链。苏塞克斯大学将进行用例演示，并在伦敦帝国理工学院理论创新的帮助下提供性能增强。为了确保商业化，劳斯莱斯和STFC的应用计算流体动力学（CFD）专家将与Riverlane和昆士兰大学合作，开发一种解决偏微分方程的量子方法，为英国航空航天领域的商业相关模拟奠定基础。开发/传播合作伙伴Sia partners将为CFD中特定应用工具的商业化制定路线图，Qureca将开发更广泛的用例，这些用例依赖于求解偏微分方程。该联盟将执行第一个用例演示，并将硬件/软件开发简化为实际应用。

Quantum computers will transform numerous industrial sectors, from the major aerodynamic simulations used to optimise jet engine design, through artificial intelligence, machine learning and the data economy, to drug discovery. Quantum computers are set to be as game-changing as the development of conventional computers in the last century, as they will be able to solve high-impact problems which would take the fastest supercomputer billions of years. A primary goal of UK's National Quantum Technology Programme is translating the UK's academic excellence in developing practical quantum computers into economic prosperity, by building a quantum computing industry sector including relevant supply chains.The biggest remaining challenges in realising universal quantum computation are in scaling up to fault-tolerant machines with millions of qubits. The quantum hardware developed in QCorrect will be capable of overcoming the limitations faced by competitors around the world propelling the UK to become a leader in commercial quantum computing. While competing platforms based on superconducting qubits are limited in the number of qubits they can realise because of the requirement to cool microchips to -273C, our platform is based on trapped-ions and does not require such cooling. Our platform is also suitable for implementation of efficient and scalable error-correction algorithms which improve the performance of the computer whilst reducing the hardware requirements.The combination of these factors offers the opportunity to develop systems featuring much larger qubit numbers. Full silicon microchip integration will allow the creation of self-sufficient electronic quantum computing modules to be deployed and made cloud-accessible for end-user investigation during the project. Hardware/software co-development is led by system integrator Universal Quantum and quantum software developer Riverlane, together with leading subsystem manufacturers for vacuum systems (Edwards) and microwave technologies (TMD Technologies, Diamond Microwave) incubating a quantum computing supply chain in the UK. The University of Sussex will perform use-case demonstrations and deliver performance enhancements aided by theoretical innovations from Imperial College London.In order to ensure a pathway to commercialisation, applied Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) experts at Rolls-Royce and STFC will work with Riverlane and UQ to develop a quantum approach to solving partial differential equations that underpin commercially-relevant simulations in the UK aerospace sector. Exploitation/dissemination partners Sia Partners will develop a roadmap to commercialisation of application-specific tools in CFD and Qureca will develop broader use-cases that depend on solving partial differential equations. The consortium will execute the first use-case demonstrations and streamline hardware/software development towards practical applications.