Humanity is creating more and more data, yet the computational power of classical computers is stalling. The speed of processors has hardly increased in recent years, while state-of-the-art problems in logistics, drug design, power distribution and many other areas hunger for computers that can solve next-generation problems.
Quantum computers promise to address some of these areas, ranging from machine learning, via finance to material design. Quantum computers offer a speed-up over classical computers to the point that they can solve problems that cannot be addressed by any classical computer. For this reason, several international entities try to realize these next-generation computing devices. Whoever can build such devices, will be ahead of other nations and may control who can find solutions for certain problems. It is therefore of strategic interest to have “our own” quantum computer.
The AQTION project addresses this goal by building a European quantum computer, using a European supply chain, to ensure that the coming quantum technology revolution will be centered on Europe. Our consortium spans the range from academic research (University of Innsbruck – UIBK, ETH Zuerich – ETH, Oxford University – OXF, University of Mainz – UMZ, University of Madrid - UCM, and Research Center Juelich - FZJ) to innovation centers (such as Fraunhofer IOF), as well as from small-scale companies (Gigatronik was acquired in the meantime by AKKA) via ME companies (such as Toptica - TOP) to large-scale corporations (such as ATOS Bull).
The versatile AQTION consortium is building a quantum computer based on storing individual charged atoms and manipulating them with laser light. The main objectives and challenges here include realizing such a device based on industry-standards such as 19’’ racks to ensure that it can be readily installed in data centers and integrated into high-performance computing infrastructure. The quantum processor at the heart of the AQTION device supports up to 50 quantum-bits (or qubits), which will enable it to perform operations that can hardly be cross-checked with any classical computer world-wide.
The key challenge is to realize such a device in a scalable fashion. On the hardware side, this goal requires us to realize scalable control electronics, means of building a quantum processor with reproducible performance, sophisticated laser control and beam manipulation to extend towards hundreds of qubits, and the preparation of an interface for the creation of networks of quantum computers. On the software side, it requires the implementation of a standardized interface, ideally via the cloud, the integration of and compatibility with quantum software development kits as well as with classical high-performance computing facilities, and the realization of a suite of quantum algorithms spanning from error correction to user applications.
We proudly report that all of these objectives have been addressed at a proof-of-concept level and in agreement with the project schedule.
