Intel can produce quantum computing chips fom silicon wafers
Mass production of quantum compute devices could change how we look at silicon. Although not necessarily a replacement for conventional hardware, quantum technologies allow many difficult problems to be solved that would otherwise be impossible. Last year, Intel was able to take steps towards the commercialization of quantum computing. A 17 qubit superconducting chip was built followed by CEO Brian Krzanich showing off a test chip at CES 2018 with 49 qubits. Unlike previous quantum efforts at Intel, this latest batch of wafers are focusing on spin qubits instead of superconducting qubits. This secondary technology is still a few years behind superconducting quantum efforts but could turn out to be more easily scalable.
Intel now has the capability to produce up to five silicon wafers every week with up to 26 qubit quantum chips. This means that Intel could increase the number of quantum devices in existence and could be looking to increase the number of qubits steadily in the coming years. The current technology being used in small scale production could eventually scale to beyond 1000 qubits. Limitations due to expansion and shrinking as a result of temperature fluctuations prevent engineers from simply expanding the number of qubits on a chip. Currently, each wafer is made up of quantum dots that must be carefully sliced so that each chip ends up with an appropriate number of qubits. Due to imperfections and physical limitations, finished chips can end up with 3, 7, 11, or 26 qubits.
No matter which type of quantum computing wins, Intel is aiming to build an architecture that can scale in excess of 1 million qubits. This would allow for the same basic structure to be used but with improved qubits overtime without having to go back to square one each time a new quantum breakthrough is made. Intel draws a comparison to the time between the world's first integrated circuit and Intel's 4004 processor that contained only 2,500 transistors. Intel could reach 1 million qubits in as little as 10 years, but stated that it might be a little optimistic.
One of the hurdles that is not addressed is the extreme cold temperatures required to operate quantum processors. Since temperatures need to be kept as close to absolute zero as possible, the capabilities of a quantum computer need to be far greater than traditional silicon in order to make them cost effective. Quantum processors are not energy efficient but have the potential to exponentially increase their output. Over time as technologies progress, their usefulness will quickly increase.