Silicon Quantum Computing, an Australian pioneer in quantum technology, recently announced the release of its revolutionary Quantum Twins product. This silicon quantum simulator will help address complex material challenges. This innovative technology is now accessible to all customers. They can obtain it through direct contracts, which is a huge step forward in the nascent world of quantum computing. The product’s capabilities were detailed in a publication in the esteemed journal Nature, highlighting its potential impact on scientific research and development.
Quantum Twins has the ability to simulate very complicated structures, such as a molecule of polyacetylene, which the team was able to successfully do in 2022. The simulator has already been used to model the metal-insulator transition in two-dimensional materials. This remarkable phenomenon is difficult for classical computers to reproduce accurately. This capability positions Silicon Quantum Computing as a leader in addressing complex scientific queries that have historically eluded traditional computing methods.
Understanding the Technology
The product behind Quantum Twins takes a different direction than traditional quantum computing, pursuing a different methodology altogether. Rather than using qubits as co-processors, the approach directly maps problems into the geometry and structure of the array itself. Sam Gorman, the quantum systems engineering lead at Silicon Quantum Computing, described this cutting-edge technique.
“Instead of using qubits, as you would typically in a quantum computer, we just directly encode the problem into the geometry and structure of the array itself,” – Sam Gorman
This method, known as quantum simulation, enables the study of complex materials and processes beyond the reach of classical computing. Gorman highlighted the phenomenal power of their AI system.
“We can do things now that we think nobody else in the world can do,” – Sam Gorman
This new capability to simulate a metal-insulator transition, in particular, is incredibly exciting. In most cases, classical computers cannot keep up with this intense modeling. Quantum Twins is more than up to this treacherous turf.
“That is the part which is challenging for classical computing. But we can actually put our system into this regime quite easily,” – Sam Gorman
Efficiency and Production
Silicon Quantum Computing has pioneered an unprecedentedly efficient production process for its Silicon-based Precision Atom Qubit Manufacturing. This transparent and participatory new process started in 2017. She FET team uses clusters of 10 to 50 phosphorus atoms to construct registers needed for simulations. They can fit 250,000 registers onto a chip in the time it takes to paint an eight-hour shift. Incredibly, they accomplish a chip design turnaround in just one week.
Michelle Simmons, cofounder of the startup Silicon Quantum Computing, has spent more than 25 years as an academic star. As an engineering geek, she passionately discussed the efficiency of their innovative toymaking manufacturing process.
“We put 250,000 of these registers [on a chip] in eight hours, and we can turn a chip design around in a week,” – Michelle Simmons
Future Applications and Focus Areas
As Silicon Quantum Computing moves forward with Quantum Twins, the team is focused on high-impact issues and outstanding problems within various fields. The special hurdle presented by simulating a molecule like polyacetylene has sparked special interest. Simmons pointed out that drugs frequently have structural similarities to polyacetylene, making this an area especially suited for exploration.
“If you look at different drugs, they’re actually very similar to polyacetylene. They’re carbon chains, and they have functional groups. So, understanding how to map it [onto our simulator] is a unique challenge. But that’s definitely an area we’re going to focus on,” – Michelle Simmons
The continuing research and development around Quantum Twins suggests we’re still in the early days of substantial breakthroughs in materials science and pharmaceuticals. Silicon Quantum Computing is at its best simulating phenomena just beyond reach. It has become a global leader in quantum technology innovation.