Approach

Building a complete quantum computer based on cutting-edge German technology is the goal of the 5-year QSolid collaborative project. The project centres on quantum bits – or qubits for short – of very high quality, i.e. with a low error rate. Qubits’ susceptibility to errors is a sticking point in the development of quantum computers, as the quantum states used to store quantum information respond extremely sensitively to external influences. In QSolid, this susceptibility to errors in the qubits is to be reduced with the help of high-precision manufacturing methods, new material systems, optimal control of the qubits as well as state-of-the-art error avoidance methods based on artificial intelligence (AI) on a firmware level, an area in which QSolid aims to set new standards. The project is aiming for 10 qubits with a low error rate in the medium term and 30 qubits in the long term.

The quantum computer will be integrated into the Jülich UNified Infrastructure for Quantum computing (JUNIQ) at Forschungszentrum Jülich at an early stage, made accessible to external users and tailored to their individual needs. It will contain at least three next-generation superconducting quantum processors: a “moonshot” system with computing power exceeding that of conventional supercomputers, an application-specific system designed to perform quantum calculations for industry, and a benchmarking platform that prioritizes the development of digital twins and industry standards. The first demonstrator will go into operation in mid-2024, and will make it possible to test applications as well as benchmarks for industry standards.