Quantum computing is still a sci-fi dream. What is UCD doing to get ahead in the race?
Quantum computing is an exciting topic. It’s a different way of solving problems. Put simply, a computer solves a problem by evaluating each possible solution, one by one. A quantum computer exploits the properties of quantum mechanics, solving problems in a different way. In quantum physics something can be in more than one state at a time. When finding the solution for a specific problem, a quantum computer can do so by evaluating several candidates at the same time. It will approximate to the right answer a lot quicker. In addition, due to the quantum nature of the technology, it has a lot of potential for simulating and solving problems in chemistry, which are quantum problems by nature - and very hard to solve with a classical computer.
UCD is not lagging in the quantum race. Equal1 is a UCD-based startup, running their lab in the Nexus center. Professor Bogdan Staszewski and Professor Elena Blokhina are both lecturers in the school of electronic and electrical engineering and are working on this cutting-edge project.
This startup is developing silicon based quantum computers, using the same technology that is used to make conventional chips. The process consists of making tiny transistors out of silicon. These transistors are nothing more than precise geometric shapes carved in silicon, with some chemical additives, like boron. By utilising readily-available manufacturing processes, these quantum chips can be designed using conventional chip design tools and can be fabricated alongside classical chips. There is no need to make new tools and processes, allowing Equal1 to develop and test quicker and cheaper.
Equal1 has designed several quantum chips already. Once fabricated, they are tested in a cryogenic chamber. This is needed to reduce thermal noise in the system, making the quantum chip more reliable. The tested chips are small chips, of 2 to 4 qubits. A qubit is a quantum bit, the equivalent of a bit in normal computers. It can be in a combination of states of 1 and 0. This is the basis of the computation tool. This number of qubits is insufficient for complicated tasks, so don’t worry they won’t break the encryption that keeps your messages secret. This is, however, a working proof of concept. As the team does more research on the technology, they will be able to fit more qubits in their chips, and have them work more reliably.
Having quantum chips available at a relatively low cost can have a big impact. The release of Deepseek has shown the world that sometimes certain technologies win not because it is more elaborate, but because it is simpler and more efficient. The work that Equal1 is doing might be the first steps towards a quantum future.