Quantum computing is a beautiful combination of quantum physics, computer science, and information theory. Quantum computing is not just about changing the physical way in which computation is done, from classical to quantum, but rather changing the notion of computation itself. The change starts at the most basic level: the fundamental unit of computation is no longer the bit, but rather the quantum bit or qubit. Placing computation on a quantum mechanical foundation has given us a glimpse of a future where previously unsolvable problems can swiftly be overcome. A quantum computing service that delivers a billion qubits or more will rapidly reduce the time and compute power required to break through current barriers in almost every domain of science and industry.

The next ten years will see a whole new toolbox open up for use by almost every sector of our economy. Just as classical computing brought new services and products to markets unimagined by its early pioneers, so quantum computing will unlock opportunities for innovators and entrepreneurs everywhere. But just as the digital revolution started with a radical upward shift in the power of microprocessors and a rapid translation of that power into ever smaller micro-chips, so the quantum revolution can only begin when the economics of the base units – the chips that hold qubits—are truly ready for market.

Despite media hype, the most advanced quantum computing systems today have less than two hundred qubits, whereas the transformational applications of quantum computing will require many millions of qubits. Those millions of qubits are necessary for correcting the inevitable errors in quantum operations. Diraq is designing chip sets that can deliver billions of qubits, packaged into the same dense silicon format as used in existing classical computers.

Diraq has established core IP in quantum computing hardware that can be manufactured at scale using existing silicon chip manufacturing plants. It was on our campus, just 20 minutes’ drive from the Sydney Opera House and Bondi beach, that silicon quantum computers were invented. Diraq is backed by a technical team with two decades of world leadership in silicon-based quantum computer hardware and is underpinned by a network of worldwide patents. Our technology is arguably the only pathway to the billions of qubits needed to realise quantum computing’s economic potential.

Those looking to build the next generation of quantum systems have a choice to make – which technology path to invest in to reach the billion-qubit goal.

Each technology path has advantages and disadvantages. Early gains in qubit numbers can be eclipsed by the need for large complex systems to maintain the environments those qubits require. In some pathways qubits can be generated that are very stable but cannot be scaled into larger arrays of even thousands, let alone the millions required. To understand Diraq’s commercial advantage an appreciation of these technology choices is needed.

Because of the large comparative size of their qubits, other approaches must link hundreds or thousands of chips, in separate cryogenic systems or modules, creating a quantum computer that would fill a building, consume huge amounts of energy and cost many millions of dollars. Which brings to mind the behemoths of the early computing era, now long discarded.
In contrast, Diraq quantum computers are designed to use industry-standard silicon chip technology that integrates all parts of the quantum computing stack into a single compact system.

Diraq are world leaders in building quantum processors using electron spins in silicon CMOS quantum dots – having invented this revolutionary technology in Sydney, filed in a network of patents beginning in 2014. The greatest advantage of silicon-based quantum processors is that they use the same technology the microchip industry has been built on for the past 60 years. This means manufacturers can profit from previous multibillion-dollar infrastructure investments, keeping production costs low. Using silicon as the basis for a quantum computer means that all the clever engineering and processing that went into developing modern classical microelectronics – from dense device packaging to integrated interconnect routing – can be adapted and used to build quantum devices.

Besides the mass-fabrication capabilities of the silicon industry, CMOS quantum dots have several quantum engineering operational and strategic advantages that distinguish this technology from its competition, and each individual advantage has the potential to give us the edge needed to stand out as the leading quantum computing technology.

Diraq is led by an exceptional team of engineers, developers and theorists. The founder, Professor Andrew Dzurak is an internationally recognised engineer and scientist, having published more than 30 publications in Nature and Science group journals. Following a PhD in Cambridge, UK he returned to Australia to build a world class team in Sydney and is currently an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow and Scientia Professor in Quantum Engineering at the School of Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications, University of New South Wales. Andrew is entrenched in the global quantum ecosystem and currently holds seats on the Executive Board of the Sydney Quantum Academy (SQA) and the Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology (CQC2T).

While the Diraq journey started over twenty years ago, the team is now ready to bring their technology to market. The next decade will be a fascinating journey toward the billion-plus qubit threshold – truly useful quantum computers at scale. If you have a passion for quantum computing and working at the very forefront of a genuine technology revolution, drop us a line.