UW-Madison researchers are “paving the way for scalable and practical” quantum computing by using advanced sensors to improve the technology.
That’s according to the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, which is touting the approach as a top licensing prospect in its portfolio of engineering and computer science research from the university.
In an overview on the technology, WARF notes future quantum computers could “open new scientific and engineering frontiers” due to their advantages over classical computers. But while the potential for this next wave of computing is immense, quantum information itself is “prone to significant errors,” which can be worsened by imperfect reading of quantum bits or qubits, the group says.
These basic units of information used for quantum computing differ from bits, which can only exist as 0 or 1, forming the basis of classical computing. Because qubits can exist in both states at the same time, thanks to quantum mechanics, they enable vastly superior computing power and speed.
But the challenges with both reading and writing qubits “fundamentally limit” the current process for running quantum computing programs, holding back the technology, according to the overview.
“Fast and accurate qubit readout, therefore, is essential for unlocking the quantum advantage,” authors wrote. “Current quantum computers use conventional cameras for reading qubits, which are inherently slow and noisy.”
To improve on this process, the UW-Madison researchers are using single-photon “quanta” sensors to more quickly and accurately read qubits by detecting individual photons. WARF says this could transform the capabilities of future quantum computers and enable their widespread use.
The innovation is attributed to Profs. Mohit Gupta, Mark Saffman and Andreas Velten, whose expertise includes computer sciences, physics, medical informatics and other fields.
The Wisconsin Technology Council earlier this year launched the Wisconsin Quantum Alliance, seeking to drive development within the state for this emerging field.
Read more about quantum developments in Wisconsin in a recent story.
