Quantum computation successful in silicon for the first time

The dream of quantum computers has moved a small step closer to reality with the first successful demonstrations of quantum algorithms in experiments and a novel proposal to build a quantum computer based on the silicon technology used in existing computers. Quantum computers would exploit the ability of quantum particles to be in a superposition of two states at the same time and, for certain tasks, would have the potential to outperform classical computers by many orders of magnitude (Physics World March pp47–52).

Xiao, Yunfeng Yunfeng, Han +3 more

Frank T. Cerasoli, Kyle Sherbert, Jagoda Sławińska +1 more

Development of quantum architectures during the last decade has inspired hybrid classical-quantum algorithms in physics and quantum chemistry that promise simulations of fermionic systems beyond the capability of modern classical computers, even before the era of quantum computing fully arrives. Strong research efforts have been recently made to obtain minimal depth quantum circuits which could accurately represent chemical systems. Here, we show that unprecedented methods used in quantum chemistry, designed to simulate molecules on quantum processors, can be extended to calculate properties of periodic solids. In particular, we present minimal depth circuits implementing the variational quantum eigensolver algorithm and successfully use it to compute the band structure of silicon on a quantum machine for the first time. We are convinced that the presented quantum experiments performed on cloud-based platforms will stimulate more intense studies towards scalable electronic structure computation of advanced quantum materials.

L. Oberbeck, S. Prawer, Andrew S. Dzurak +28 more

Robert W. Keyes

Information has long been described by physical structures. The spectacularly successful modern computers use silicon transistors to hold and process information. A number of attempts to repeat the success with other kinds of solid-state devices have failed. The reasons for the unique success of silicon transistors are found in the requirements of computing, the properties of transistors, and the variability in devices manufactured in the large quantities needed to build large computing systems. New challenges will be met in building quantum computers to meet the same requirements.

Di Liu, Shuxiao Li, Hai-Ou Li +1 more