Step towards quantum computers ‘which could break the internet’

Researchers have announced a major breakthrough in the quest to build an effective quantum computer – a machine which could revolutionise everything from drug discovery to cancer treatments.

Quantum computers have ‘qubits’ instead of ‘bits’ of ones and zeroes – and qubits can be one, zero or both at the same time.

Creating an effective quantum computer could unlock unheard-of computing power, researchers believe – although some warn that the discovery could ‘break the internet’, with quantum machines able to break current encryption methods.

Researchers from the University of Sussex and Universal Quantum showed off this month that qubits can directly transfer between quantum computer microchips and demonstrated this with record-breaking speed and accuracy.

This breakthrough resolves a major challenge in building quantum computers large and powerful enough to tackle complex problems from climate change to cancer treatments.

Today, quantum computers operate on the 100-qubit scale.

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Experts anticipate millions of qubits are required to solve important problems that are out of reach of today’s most powerful supercomputers .

There is a global quantum race to develop quantum computers that can solve important problems in nearly every industry, ranging from aeronautics to the financial sector.

The researchers used electric field links to enable qubits to move from one quantum computing microchip module to another with unprecedented speed and precision.

This allows chips to slot together like a jigsaw puzzle to make a more powerful quantum computer.

The University of Sussex and Universal Quantum team were successful in transporting the qubits with a 99.999993% success rate and a connection rate of 2424/s, both numbers are world records and orders of magnitude better than previous solutions.

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Winfried Hensinger, professor of quantum technologies at the University of Sussex and chief scientist and co-founder at Universal Quantum, said: “As quantum computers grow, we will eventually be constrained by the size of the microchip, which limits the number of quantum bits such a chip can accommodate.

“As such, we knew a modular approach was key to make quantum computers powerful enough to solve step-changing industry problems. In demonstrating that we can connect two quantum computing chips – a bit like a jigsaw puzzle – and, crucially, that it works so well, we unlock the potential to scale-up by connecting hundreds or even thousands of quantum computing microchips.”

While linking the modules at world-record speed, the scientists also verified that the ‘strange’ quantum nature of the qubit remains untouched during transport, for example, that the qubit can be both 0 and 1 at the same time.

Universal Quantum has just been awarded €67m (£59m) from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to build two quantum computers where they will deploy this technology as part of the contract.

Professor Sasha Roseneil, vice-chancellor of the University of Sussex, said: “It’s fantastic to see that the inspired work of the University of Sussex and Universal Quantum physicists has resulted in this phenomenal breakthrough, taking us a significant step closer to a quantum computer that will be of real societal use.

“These computers are set to have boundless applications – from improving the development of medicines, creating new materials, to maybe even unlocking solutions to the climate crisis."

Watch: What is quantum computing and how will it change the world?