Universal Quantum's announces the first commercial ASIC chip for Trapped-Ion Quantum computing

The company has created the first commercial Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chip for integration into its fully integrated Quantum Processing Units (iQPU).

Hello Everyone,

Today’s article is a short summary on Universal Quantum’s claims in recent days. Their CEO is Dr Sebastian Weidt.

I’ve been watching this startup from at least 2022. Founded back in 2018, as a spin-off from the University of Sussex, Universal Quantum aims to build a fully scalable quantum computer based on trapped ions while making use of standard silicon-chip processing technology.

Why 2022? In November of that year the Brighton-based quantum computing startup Universal Quantum has secured a €67m (£57.7m) contract from the German government to build a scalable trapped-ion quantum computer.

On July 22nd, 2024 they unveil their first commercial Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chip for integration into Universal Quantum’s fully integrated Quantum Processing Units (iQPU).

Essentially using well-established microwave and microchip technology, it uses trapped ion qubits at a more accessible temperature of -200°C compared to other quantum computers that require near absolute zero temperatures and extensive cooling.

Breakthrough?

In their latest PR, the team reports integrating key qubit control electronics into the quantum chip architecture that holds the qubits is critical to achieving scale. The company claims this advance could also enhance quantum error correction by at least a factor of six by enabling qubit connectivity at scale.

These are fairly big claims.

So what is trapped ion quantum computation (TIQC)? A functional quantum computing system that can yield interesting results must contain a large number of qubits. Most agree that Quantum computers with millions of qubits are essential to solving some of humanity’s toughest challenges.

Universal Quantum raised a $4.5 million seed round in 2020 from Hoxton Ventures, Village Global, Propagator Ventures, Luminous Ventures, and 7percent Ventures, extended by Quantum Exponential in 2022. I believe they are due for some more funding soon.

Trapped-Ion Renaissance?

According to Universal Quantum, integrating key qubit control electronics into the quantum chip architecture that holds the qubits is critical to achieving that scale.

Universal Quantum announces a key advancement in enabling trapped-ion quantum computing at the million-qubit scale: The company has developed the first commercial Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chip for integration into Universal Quantum’s fully integrated Quantum Processing Units (iQPU). This novel chip boasts a host of features:

• Built-in enabler of UQConnect, which is Universal Quantum’s powerful link technology capable of directly transferring qubits between chip modules at a world record rate of 2.4 kHz and fidelity of 99.999993%, with further enhancements anticipated

• Built-in enabler of UQLogic, which is Universal Quantum’s ultra-efficient microwave technology capable of controlling qubits at any scale

• Facilitation of highly efficient execution of quantum algorithms at any scale through enhanced connectivity between qubits

• Solves the ‘wiring problem’ common in quantum computing

• Can operate at Universal Quantum’s architecture temperature of 70K

• Will enhance quantum error correction by at least a factor of six by enabling qubit connectivity at scale