IBM has designed a new quantum chips that is believes will let quantum systems outperform conventional computers “at some tasks” within the next two years, according to its executives.
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The new computing chip is called ‘Eagle’ and has 127 qubits. Like conventional silicon uses bits to represent information, a quantum computer uses qubits. Bits must have a value of 0 or 1 (on or off), while qubits take advantage of the quantum state phenomenon of electrons and can represent either a value of 0 or 1, or it can be both 0 and 1 simultaneously.
It is this fluctuation in the state of the qubits that could allow quantum computers to be much faster than traditional computers. As computer chips have advanced, the transistors have become ever smaller (we are expected to enter the age of the 3nm process soon), but it means that there are limits to how small something can get and we are nearing that limit with silicon chips. The quantum technology still has some ways to go before it can take over, though, as qubits are exceedingly hard to build and require huge cryogenic refrigerators to operate correctly.
IBM said that its new quantum chip is the first in the world to have more than 100 qubits. For context, Apple’s latest M1 Max chipset has 57 billion transistors (think bits, as the transistor is the on or off switch, producing the 1 or 0). However, you need a tiny fraction of the number of qubits as compared to bits in order die reach the same level of performance.
The company has said that it has learned a lot in the manufacturing process of ‘Eagle’ and will push the knowledge further. It expects to produce significantly more qubits in its chips soon, as well as make massive advances in the quantum computer’s refrigeration and control systems. Its next generation quantum chip will be called ‘Osprey’ and will have 433 qubits, expected to be produced in 2022. Soon thereafter they are planning to build the ‘Condor’ chip with 1,121 qubits.
“We believe that we will be able to reach a demonstration of quantum advantage — something that can have practical value — within the next couple of years. That is our quest,” Darío Gil, a senior vice president at IBM and head of his research division, said.
