Quantum Charge-coupled Device (QCCD)
In 1998, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laid out a proposal for building a quantum computer that uses movable ions as qubits. This is analogous to a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, which stores and processes imaging information as movable electrical charges in coupled pixels. The QCCD computer, instead, stores quantum information in the internal state of ions that are transported between different processing zones using dynamic electromagnetic fields. Quantinuum’s quantum computers follow the QCCD architecture, which enables the low error rates of these devices and all-to-all connectivity.
In 1998, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laid out a proposal for building a quantum computer that uses movable ions as qubits. This is analogous to a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, which stores and processes imaging information as movable electrical charges in coupled pixels. The QCCD computer, instead, stores quantum information in the internal state of ions that are transported between different processing zones using dynamic electromagnetic fields. Quantinuum’s quantum computers follow the QCCD architecture, which enables the low error rates of these devices and all-to-all connectivity.
In classical computing, the smallest unit of data is a binary digit or bit, which can be either 0 (off) or 1 (on). A quantum bit, or qubit, is the smallest unit of data in quantum computing. Instead of existing as 0s and 1s, the state of a qubit exists on the Bloch sphere. In our QCCD architecture, qubits are made from 2 energy levels in a trapped ion.
In classical computing, the smallest unit of data is a binary digit or bit, which can be either 0 (off) or 1 (on). A quantum bit, or qubit, is the smallest unit of data in quantum computing. Instead of existing as 0s and 1s, the state of a qubit exists on the Bloch sphere. In our QCCD architecture, qubits are made from 2 energy levels in a trapped ion.
Quantum bits, or qubits, are the smallest unit of data in quantum computers. The quantum information stored in qubits is fragile - qubits tend to interact with their environment and one another, which changes the quantum state and corrupts the quantum information. We call this “noise”.
Quantum bits, or qubits, are the smallest unit of data in quantum computers. The quantum information stored in qubits is fragile - qubits tend to interact with their environment and one another, which changes the quantum state and corrupts the quantum information. We call this “noise”.
All quantum systems can be described by a linear combination of basis states. Basis states describe the possible outcome states of measurements. For example, a qubit is described by a point on the Bloch sphere, written as c0|0⟩+c1|1⟩. The complex numbers c0, c1 determine the probabilities |c0|2, |c1|2 of measuring the qubit in either the |0⟩ or |1⟩ state of a particular measurement (Z-measurement in this example), respectively. When a quantum system is written as such a sum, we say it is in a superposition of the outcome states.
All quantum systems can be described by a linear combination of basis states. Basis states describe the possible outcome states of measurements. For example, a qubit is described by a point on the Bloch sphere, written as c0|0⟩+c1|1⟩. The complex numbers c0, c1 determine the probabilities |c0|2, |c1|2 of measuring the qubit in either the |0⟩ or |1⟩ state of a particular measurement (Z-measurement in this example), respectively. When a quantum system is written as such a sum, we say it is in a superposition of the outcome states.
Entanglement describes a set of quantum systems where the quantum state of each system in the group cannot be described independently of the state of the others, including when the systems are separated by a large distance. The topic of quantum entanglement is at the heart of the disparity between classical and quantum physics: entanglement is a primary feature of quantum mechanics not present in classical mechanics.
Entanglement describes a set of quantum systems where the quantum state of each system in the group cannot be described independently of the state of the others, including when the systems are separated by a large distance. The topic of quantum entanglement is at the heart of the disparity between classical and quantum physics: entanglement is a primary feature of quantum mechanics not present in classical mechanics.
The Bloch sphere is a geometrical representation of the pure state space of a two-level quantum mechanical system (qubit),named after the physicist Felix Bloch. The poles of the sphere correspond to the |0>and |1> states. Other intermediate points on the surface correspond to superpositions of |0>and |1> states.
The Bloch sphere is a geometrical representation of the pure state space of a two-level quantum mechanical system (qubit),named after the physicist Felix Bloch. The poles of the sphere correspond to the |0>and |1> states. Other intermediate points on the surface correspond to superpositions of |0>and |1> states.
A fundamental quantum mechanical experiment used to verify the presence of quantum entanglement and certify randomness quality. In quantum random number generation, Bell tests provide a rigorous, Nobel Prize-winning method to quantify the unpredictability of generated random numbers, offering certainty that surpasses traditional statistical tests.
A fundamental quantum mechanical experiment used to verify the presence of quantum entanglement and certify randomness quality. In quantum random number generation, Bell tests provide a rigorous, Nobel Prize-winning method to quantify the unpredictability of generated random numbers, offering certainty that surpasses traditional statistical tests.
All-to-all connectivity denotes the ability to “connect” any qubit to any other qubit. In practice, this means moving our qubits around in space so that any two can be, for example, gated together. All-to-all connectivity comes for “free” with our architecture, while it is nearly impossible for architectures with fixed qubit locations, such as superconducting or NV center.
All-to-all connectivity improves the efficiency and flexibility of quantum computers, eliminating the need for “swap gates” (which add noise), allowing for exotic error correcting codes (which have multiple benefits), and improving the computational power of the quantum processing unit (QPU).
All-to-all connectivity denotes the ability to “connect” any qubit to any other qubit. In practice, this means moving our qubits around in space so that any two can be, for example, gated together. All-to-all connectivity comes for “free” with our architecture, while it is nearly impossible for architectures with fixed qubit locations, such as superconducting or NV center.
All-to-all connectivity improves the efficiency and flexibility of quantum computers, eliminating the need for “swap gates” (which add noise), allowing for exotic error correcting codes (which have multiple benefits), and improving the computational power of the quantum processing unit (QPU).
