Today, Google’s Quantum AI team unveiled Willow, a cutting-edge quantum computing chip that has demonstrated the ability to not only correct errors exponentially, but also process certain calculations faster than supercomputers could. within known physics deadlines.
This is an important milestone in the Quantum AI team’s journey to create a reliable quantum computer capable of expanding human knowledge for the benefit of all. Quantum is a new approach to computing, in which people build machines that use quantum mechanics – the fundamental language of the universe – to push the boundaries of classical computing.
Enter the Google Quantum AI Lab to learn more about how quantum computing works and understand six key quantum concepts.
1. Quantum computing: why everything else is “classical computing”
Quantum computing is a completely new style of computing. Most people are familiar with classic computing: the binary digits (or “bits”) that can be 1s or 0s, which power everything from graphing calculators to massive data centers, and which are the basis of almost all digital innovations of the last half century. .
Quantum computing is different. Rather than using classical bits, quantum computing uses quantum bits, or “qubits.”
2. Qubits: the building blocks of quantum computing
Qubits behave according to the laws of quantum physics. Instead of being limited to the “either/or” of binary 1s and 0s, they can exist as a mixture of the two. Qubits can store superposition (multiple states at the same time) information of 0s and 1s. They can also be entangled with each other to create even more complex combinations — for example, two qubits can be in a mixture of 00s. , 01, 10, and 11. When you entangle many qubits, you open up a lot of states they can be in, giving you a lot of computing power. These two special properties give quantum computers the superpower to solve some of the most difficult problems much faster than conventional classical computers.
3. Manufacturing: How the Quantum AI team makes chips for qubits
Unlike conventional computer chips – which are produced by a huge, well-established industry – quantum computing is such a new style of computing that Google makes its own qubits in-house with superconducting integrated circuits. By modeling superconducting metals in a new way, we form circuits with capacitance (the ability to store energy in electric fields) and inductance (the ability to store energy in magnetic fields) , as well as special nonlinear elements called Josephson junctions. By carefully choosing materials and mastering manufacturing processes, we can build chips with high-quality qubits that can be controlled and integrated into large, complex devices.
4. Noise: building packaging to protect quantum computers from disturbances
Quantum computers can be prima donnas. They have the ability to solve problems that would be impossible on conventional computers, but they are also very sensitive to errors due to “noise” or disturbances such as radio waves, electromagnetic fields and heat (even cosmic rays! ). So, just like building a sound studio for recording artists, to protect the integrity of quantum computing processes, the Quantum AI team builds special packaging to reduce noise. They place the qubits in this special packaging to connect them to the outside world while protecting them as much as possible from outside disturbances. Achieving this requires extensive and highly complex mechanical and electromagnetic engineering work, as well as careful attention to details such as choosing the right materials or deciding on specific locations where to place holes for circuits.
5. Wiring: creating the pathways to control a quantum computer
Controlling a quantum computer requires sending signals across environments with wildly varying temperatures. We control the qubits with microwave signals, which are transmitted via special wires from room temperature to extremely low temperatures. These wires are chosen to ensure that we can transmit signals as efficiently and accurately as possible. Adding things like filtering to the middle of these wires further protects our qubits from the effects of external noise.
6. Dilution fridge: one of the coldest places in the universe
To operate superconducting qubits, we need to keep them at extremely low temperatures, colder than space. Special equipment called a dilution refrigerator is needed to achieve these ultra cold and dark conditions. By keeping our qubits inside the dilution refrigerator, superconducting metals can enter their zero-resistance state – an ice-cold state in which electricity can flow without losing energy – and we can reduce unwanted elements like thermal noise. In this way, our superconducting qubits can retain their quantum properties and perform complex calculations for quantum computing.
Willow is the latest step in our Quantum AI team’s work to unlock the full potential of quantum computing. Now that you have an idea of our lab work, check out our roadmap for quantum computing to see how we plan to take quantum out of the lab and into useful applications.