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The race for a functional quantum computer is heating up, and DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) is taking an unconventional approach. Their Underexplored Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing (US2QC) program sets its sights on achieving a significant milestone: utility-scale quantum computing. This means building a quantum computer where the computational power outweighs the effort and cost of running it. But here’s the twist: US2QC focuses on exploring less conventional methods than those currently dominating the field.
Quantum computing, with its ability to leverage quantum bits or qubits, holds the promise of exponentially enhancing computational power, tackling complex problems that are insurmountable for classical computers. However, the road to realizing this potential has been fraught with challenges, primarily stemming from the delicate nature of quantum systems and the immense resources required for their development. DARPA’s US2QC program aims to break through these barriers by exploring alternative approaches to quantum computing that could accelerate progress towards achieving utility-scale operation.
Why Unorthodox?
Conventional approaches to quantum computing face significant hurdles. Building and maintaining these machines is incredibly complex and expensive. US2QC aims to bypass these challenges by exploring alternative methods that might lead to a quicker and potentially more cost-effective path towards a usable quantum computer.
The central objective of the US2QC program is to determine if unconventional quantum computing methods can achieve utility-scale operation, where the computational benefits outweigh the costs involved, at a faster pace than current projections suggest. This entails investigating underexplored avenues in quantum computing, which may have been overlooked or deemed less viable in the past. By embracing unconventional methodologies, DARPA hopes to uncover new insights and breakthroughs that could propel quantum computing into a new era of utility-scale application.
The US2QC Advantage
The potential transformative impact of quantum computers on scientific and technical disciplines remains largely hypothetical, lacking definitive proof. Two key factors contribute to the uncertainty surrounding the ultimate impact of quantum computing. Firstly, while numerous algorithms and applications have been proposed for quantum computers, rigorous comparisons to the best classical alternatives for real-world usage are often lacking. Secondly, the timeline and feasibility of building a “utility-scale” quantum computer— one whose computational benefits outweigh its costs, particularly in fault-tolerant applications—remain uncertain.
The program offers a two-pronged approach:
- Speeding Up Utility-Scale Achievement: By exploring untrodden paths, US2QC hopes to achieve utility-scale quantum computing much faster than current predictions suggest. This could significantly accelerate the timeline for harnessing the true power of quantum computers.
- Diversity in Solutions: Focusing on unconventional methods broadens the horizon for potential breakthroughs. US2QC might unearth entirely new approaches that lead to more efficient and scalable quantum computing architectures.
The complexity inherent in developing a fault-tolerant utility-scale quantum computer could rival or surpass that of a classical supercomputer. Achieving a viable design would require an extensive verification and validation effort, ensuring that all components and subsystems meet the required specifications and can be successfully integrated. This process is anticipated to be challenging and time-intensive, spanning multiple years. The primary objective of the US2QC program is to explore whether alternative approaches to quantum computing, which have been underexplored thus far, could accelerate the achievement of utility-scale operation compared to conventional projections. Through a comprehensive, collaborative, and adaptable verification and validation process conducted concurrently with ongoing research and development efforts, US2QC aims to shed light on the potential of these unconventional methods.
The Path Forward
US2QC is a multi-stage program. Selected companies have already submitted innovative design concepts for fault-tolerant prototypes, a crucial step towards building a full-fledged utility-scale quantum computer. These designs will undergo rigorous evaluation by a DARPA-led team of experts.
In collaboration with Atom Computing, Microsoft, and PsiQuantum, the program seeks to evaluate novel approaches to quantum computing that could achieve utility-scale operation faster than conventional predictions, thereby mitigating the risk of strategic surprise. The initial phase involves the presentation of design concepts by the named companies, followed by rigorous evaluation and validation by a DARPA-led team comprising experts from government laboratories and research centers.
Microsoft and PsiQuantum have emerged as leaders in DARPA’s Underexplored Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing (US2QC) program, which seeks to investigate unconventional quantum computing methods capable of achieving utility-scale operation. This program aims to determine if these methods can surpass current predictions and offer computational benefits that outweigh operational costs.
Initially, participating companies were tasked with presenting innovative design concepts for utility-scale quantum computers. Following this phase, Microsoft and PsiQuantum have been selected to advance their concepts further. The immediate objective is to develop a fault-tolerant prototype, crucial for demonstrating the feasibility of constructing and operating a utility-scale quantum computer as planned.
The prototype’s design must outline all necessary components and subsystems, along with their minimum performance requirements. To ensure the viability of these designs, a DARPA-led government team, comprising top technical experts, will undertake a rigorous evaluation process.
Dr. Joe Altepeter, US2QC program manager in DARPA’s Microsystems Technology Office, expressed excitement about the plausible paths presented by multiple performers’ designs towards achieving utility-scale systems.
Earlier this year, DARPA selected three companies for their novel approaches during the initial phase:
- Atom Computing, based in Berkeley, California, focuses on building highly scalable quantum computers based on large arrays of optically-trapped atoms.
- Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, is developing an industrial-scale quantum system based on a topological qubit architecture. This architecture is theorized to enable a machine that is compact yet powerful enough to solve practical problems within a reasonable timeframe, with the capability to control over one million qubits.
- PsiQuantum, Corp., Palo Alto, California, utilizes silicon-based photonics to create an error-corrected quantum computer based on a lattice-like fabric of photonic qubits.
Both Microsoft and PsiQuantum are now at the forefront of this exploration, with the project scheduled to continue until March 2025. Dr. Altepeter emphasized the ongoing commitment to exploring whether these technologies can achieve the significant advancements required to realize quantum computers with genuine scientific and industrial utility. He praised the researchers’ dedication and the solid technology descriptions and detailed research plans presented thus far.
PsiQuantum
PsiQuantum has been awarded a contract with DARPA to continue its work on the Underexplored Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing (US2QC) program. This initiative aims to explore alternative approaches to quantum computing, such as PsiQuantum’s photonic approach, to determine their potential for achieving utility-scale operation faster than conventional predictions. The program involves multiple phases and years of effort, with DARPA leading the initiative.
During the initial phase, PsiQuantum collaborated with a team of experts from various government institutions to evaluate the company’s technology and its viability for building a utility-scale quantum computer. After a year-long diligence effort, DARPA concluded that PsiQuantum’s photonic approach merits advancement to the next phase of the program. The DARPA-led team included experts from institutions like the Air Force Research Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and NASA Ames Research Center.
While most commercial quantum computing efforts have focused on matter-based approaches, the photonic approach offers unique advantages for addressing technical challenges related to scale and error correction. However, this approach has been relatively underexplored in the United States compared to other methods.
In the next phase of the US2QC program, PsiQuantum will focus on designing a fault-tolerant prototype to demonstrate the feasibility of constructing and operating a utility-scale quantum computer as intended. DARPA will closely monitor PsiQuantum’s progress toward this goal, along with other partners across the U.S. Government.
Jeremy O’Brien, CEO and Co-Founder of PsiQuantum, emphasized the company’s mission to build and deploy the world’s first useful, large-scale quantum computer. He welcomed expert scrutiny of their technology and expressed eagerness to continue collaborating with DARPA and other government partners.
Dr. Joe Altepeter, US2QC program manager at DARPA’s Microsystems Technology Office, expressed excitement about the progress made by multiple performers in designing plausible paths to utility-scale quantum systems. He highlighted the importance of ongoing exploration to determine if these technologies can realize the significant leap needed to create quantum computers with scientific and industrial utility.
With plans spanning five years and four phases, the US2QC program underscores the urgency to advance quantum computing capabilities to safeguard critical infrastructure and communications systems against potential threats posed by adversaries wielding advanced quantum technologies.
Microsoft
The U.S. Government, through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), has renewed funding for Microsoft Azure Quantum based on recent successes and detailed plans for building a utility-scale quantum computer.
DARPA’s US2QC program invests in companies with innovative approaches to designing and building scalable quantum computers. Microsoft Azure Quantum was selected for ongoing support due to its promising work on topological qubits, a type of qubit with built-in error protection that is crucial for scalability.
Topological qubits, which Microsoft is focusing on, offer advantages such as smaller size, faster operation, and digital control, making them ideal for building a scalable and fault-tolerant quantum computer.
Microsoft’s approach was selected by DARPA after a thorough review by experts from several prestigious institutions, including the Air Force Research Laboratory and NASA Ames Research Center. Microsoft’s achievements in hardware and software design, along with their detailed plans and risk management strategies, contributed to this decision.
The next phase involves developing a detailed design for a Fault-Tolerant Prototype (FTP) quantum computer, demonstrating the feasibility of a utility-scale quantum computer. This prototype will establish a baseline for scalability, processing information stored in logical qubits that represent thousands of physical qubits.
DARPA’s extended investment in Microsoft Azure Quantum underscores confidence in Microsoft’s topological qubit approach and its potential to build a scalable quantum supercomputer. Achieving this goal will enable the rapid solution of currently intractable problems, delivering significant global benefits.
The Broader Impact
While spearheaded by DARPA, the implications of US2QC extend far beyond military applications. A functional quantum computer promises revolutionary capabilities in various fields, including drug discovery, materials science, and financial modeling.
US2QC’s exploration of unconventional methods injects fresh ideas into the field, potentially leading to breakthroughs that benefit not just the military but all of society. As the program progresses, it will be fascinating to see which unorthodox approaches hold the key to unlocking the true potential of quantum computing.
