Scientists at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) have created an innovative design for a quantum processor that could pave the way for large-scale, reliable quantum computers.
This breakthrough design is modular, flexible, and scalable, resembling the chips used in everyday devices like smartphones and laptops.
Unlike traditional quantum processors, which arrange qubits (the building blocks of quantum computers) in a flat, 2D grid, the PME team has developed a chip with a central router.
This router acts like a hub, connecting different groups of qubits more efficiently.
The new design is described in a paper published in Physical Review X by lead author Xuntao Wu and his colleagues in the Cleland Lab.
The modular nature of this quantum chip allows for easier upgrades and better performance. “It’s like a classical computer motherboard where components like the CPU and GPU work together,” Wu explained. “We aim to bring this concept into the quantum world.”
Quantum computers have incredible potential to solve complex problems in fields like healthcare, cryptography, clean energy, and telecommunications. However, current designs face two big challenges: size and noise.
To make quantum computers practical, they need to handle massive calculations with minimal errors and connect millions—or even billions—of qubits. Traditional designs struggle because qubits can only interact with their immediate neighbors, limiting scalability. Moreover, if any qubits fail during the manufacturing process, the entire chip can malfunction.
The PME team’s design overcomes these issues. By using a central router, qubits can connect and interact quickly, even across longer distances. This design also reduces fabrication challenges by allowing components to be pre-tested and added to the chip later.
This new quantum chip is just the beginning. The team plans to scale up the number of qubits and explore ways to expand its capabilities. They also hope to improve the range over which qubits can connect and entangle, a crucial feature for quantum computing and communication.
“Right now, the range is about a few millimeters,” Wu said. “To connect qubits over longer distances, we’ll need to integrate new technologies.”
The new chip design could fundamentally change how quantum computers are built, bringing us closer to a future where these powerful machines solve problems far beyond the reach of today’s best supercomputers.
