What is a Quantum computing chip?

A quantum computing chip serves as the processor for quantum computers. These quantum computing chips contain quantum bits, or “qubits”.

For example IBM’s quantum computing chip and machine “Quantum System Two”, which uses three “Heron” cryogenically cooled chips. The chip called Condor, has 1,121 superconducting qubits arranged in a honeycomb pattern.

Microsoft has made a new chip, called Majorana 1. The Majorana 1 chip contains eight “qubits,” or quantum bits, with the potential to scale to 1 million qubits. The company has now created a single device that is part indium arsenide (a type of semiconductor) and part aluminum (a superconductor at low temperatures). When it is cooled to about 400 degrees below zero, it exhibits a kind of otherworldly behavior that might make quantum computers possible.

Must read: Qubit – quantum mechanical analogue of classical bit

A classical computing bit can have a value of 0 or 1, but a qubit can have a value of 0, 1, or both. This gives quantum computers the ability to process equations and algorithms exponentially faster than classical computers.

What are the associated challenges with respect to Quantum computing chip?

Some challenges that quantum computing chips face are scalability and manufacturing.

While the concept of quantum computing was introduced in 1959, the industry is in its infancy. The 21st century has brought on many vital advancements for quantum computing, but a major hurdle will continue to be commercially-scalable quantum computing. Quantum computing technologies have the potential to reshape some of the biggest industries in the world, but only if the scaling process continues to advance.

Another challenge in the chip manufacturing process is supply chain issues. Efficient production and distribution of quantum computing chips will be extremely important to quantum computing’s commercial future.

Why having more qubits is important?

Having more qubits in a quantum computing chip is important because every qubit significantly increases the computing power of the quantum computing chip. As the quantum computing industry continues to race towards commercial scalability, the ability to create quantum computing chips with more and more qubits will set the tone for quantum computing’s future.

Quantum computing could allow problems in physics, chemistry, engineering and medicine to be solved in minutes that would take today’s supercomputers millions of years to complete.

Quantum computers promise to perform certain computations that are beyond the reach of classical computers. They will do so by exploiting uniquely quantum phenomena such as entanglement and superposition, which allow multiple qubits to exist in multiple collective states at once.

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUES . Consider the following statements: UPSC PRELIMS 2025

I. It is expected that Majorana l chip will enable quantum computing.

II. Majorana l chip has been introduced by Amazon Web Services (AWS).

III. Deep learning is a subset of machine learning.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) I and II only

(b) II and III only

(c) I and III only

(d) I, II and III

Show Answer