PsiQuantum reveals quantum chips with PsiCube cooling

PsiQuantum has unveiled the intricate details of its photonic quantum chips and innovative cooling system, which are set to power a groundbreaking quantum computer boasting a staggering one million qubits. The Omega quantum photonic chipset, meticulously designed for utility-scale quantum computing, is manufactured by Global Foundries in New York on a 300mm wafer. The technology breakthrough was recently showcased in a paper submitted to Nature last June and officially published this week.

The paper highlights the remarkable high-fidelity qubit operations achieved by PsiQuantum, along with the introduction of a straightforward yet powerful chip-to-chip qubit interconnect system. This interconnect capability is a crucial advancement that has posed significant challenges for other quantum technologies striving to achieve scalability.

With a substantial funding of over $665 million, PsiQuantum is gearing up to commence construction this year on two colossal Quantum Compute Centres in Brisbane, Australia, and Chicago, Illinois. The ambitious project aims to revolutionize the landscape of quantum computing and bring it closer to practical realization.

“For more than 25 years, it has been my firm belief that unlocking the full potential of the semiconductor industry is paramount for the development of a truly functional quantum computer within my lifetime. This paper serves as a validation of that belief,” expressed Prof. Jeremy O’Brien, the Co-founder & CEO of PsiQuantum.

A novel cooling system capable of reaching temperatures as low as tens of kelvins has been devised by PsiQuantum, eliminating the need for the cumbersome chandelier cryostat utilized by conventional quantum computers. The PsiCube, featuring a more streamlined and manufacturable cuboid design akin to a datacentre server rack, has already been successfully deployed at the company’s research center in Daresbury, Cheshire, UK.

PsiQuantum’s pioneering approach revolves around harnessing single photons using silicon photonic chip (PIC) technology originally developed for telecommunications and datacentre networking, now enhanced with cutting-edge superconducting materials. The PIC incorporates Barium Titanate (BTO) for low-loss, high-speed optical switching, a technology developed and manufactured by PsiQuantum in San Jose, California.

Introducing a groundbreaking fault-tolerant error correction architecture termed fusion-based quantum computing (FBQC), PsiQuantum merges individual photons to create larger entangled states, paving the way for enhanced quantum computing capabilities. The company is currently interconnecting these chips across racks to construct increasingly large-scale multi-chip systems at a state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing facility in Silicon Valley.

“The integration of semiconductor manufacturing is poised to play a pivotal role in the quest for scalable quantum computers. At GlobalFoundries, we understand the immense challenges associated with engineering advanced devices at scale, and we are highly impressed by PsiQuantum’s expertise and progress. Our collaboration combines GlobalFoundries’ top-tier photonics manufacturing with PsiQuantum’s advanced capabilities in photonic quantum computing, yielding remarkable results,” remarked Tom Caulfield, the CEO of GlobalFoundries.

“Omega signifies a significant leap forward from a mere scientific endeavor,” emphasized Pete Shadbolt, the Co-founder & Chief Scientific Officer of PsiQuantum. Reflecting on the company's humble beginnings in a university lab experimenting with a handful of qubits, Shadbolt expressed the team's foresight in recognizing the need for millions of qubits and the intricate integration of diverse components into a unified platform.

“Witnessing the team's execution of our decade-old plans and witnessing the technology now at our disposal to construct commercially viable systems is truly exhilarating. We are on the cusp of realizing our vision and bringing quantum computing to the forefront of technological innovation,” Shadbolt concluded.