Rigetti Unveils 24-Qubit Quantum Computer in the UK

Rigetti UK and Oxford Instruments NanoScience have successfully concluded a groundbreaking three-year project aimed at developing and installing one of the UK’s first quantum computers. The £10 million consortium, spearheaded by Rigetti UK, focused on accelerating the commercialization of quantum computing in the UK by delivering a cutting-edge 32-qubit quantum computer. Collaborating with the Quantum Software Lab at the University of Edinburgh, Phasecraft, and Standard Chartered Bank, the project marked a significant milestone in the advancement of quantum technology.

The 32-qubit Aspen-class quantum computer, Rigetti’s inaugural system deployed in the UK, was made accessible to the Company’s UK partners through Rigetti’s Quantum Cloud Services (QCS) cloud computing platform. This allowed partners to engage in quantum application and algorithm development, paving the way for innovative solutions in various sectors. Rigetti is now gearing up to introduce a 24-qubit quantum computing system at the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) utilizing the latest Ankaa-class chip architecture.

The collaboration between the Quantum Software Lab, Standard Chartered Bank, and Phasecraft was instrumental in exploring novel methods for testing quantum hardware, verifying quantum program performance, and advancing quantum machine learning applications for finance. Phasecraft leveraged its expertise in quantum algorithms and high-efficiency quantum software to harness the system for applications in materials design and simulation, showcasing the versatility of quantum computing.

Hosting the system at Oxford Instruments’ Tubney Woods facility using the ProteoxLX dilution refrigerator ensured a seamless operational environment for the consortium partners. The robust infrastructure, including backup power and resilient cooling systems, maintained optimal conditions for running algorithms via QCS without interruptions. The high uptime of the quantum system was guaranteed by highly controlled temperature and humidity environments, underscoring the reliability of the setup.

Subodh Kulkarni, CEO of Rigetti, expressed pride in the consortium's achievement, stating, “The completion of this project and the successful deployment of a functional 32-qubit quantum computer is a remarkable feat for all partners involved. The UK has emerged as a global leader in quantum computing technologies, and we are committed to further enhancing its quantum computing capabilities.” The experience gained from this project will be pivotal in Rigetti’s journey towards deploying a 24-qubit Ankaa-class quantum computer at NQCC’s Harwell campus.