If you thought computers were good, just wait until quantum computers are unleashed. These technological marvels have the potential to be millions of times more powerful than traditional computers and, once they hit the mainstream, anything will be possible.
Brighton-based Universal Quantum is one of the industry leaders in the UK, and the company has already solved some key issues related to the technology.
Quantum Computing Slowly Creeping Into Mainstream
In the same way that artificial intelligence crept into the mainstream and then appeared everywhere, the same thing could happen with quantum computers. There are already subtle hints towards this future in the mainstream, giving people a sense of what to expect.
For example, in the realm of online roulette games, there’s the hugely popular Quantum Roulette. This is a futuristic spin on the traditional wheel, and it adds random multipliers to various numbers. You don’t need an advanced degree in physics to be able to play it, highlighting how, when quantum computers do become widespread, they will most likely be user friendly.
There’s also a vast amount of quantum fiction out there, with Cloud Atlas among the most famous examples. The David Mitchell book was adapted for the big screen by the Wachowskis in 2012. More recently, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania gave viewers a taste of quantum physics presented in a way that laypeople could understand.
Pioneering Error Correction Techniques
The idea of quantum computing has been around for a while, but there have been various stumbling blocks that have slowed down its progression. One of the issues that Universal Quantum has famously worked on is error correction.
Experts from the company collaborated with boffins at Google and came up with a novel decoder capable of effectively managing correlated errors. The advancement is crucial for the implementation of transversal logical CNOT gates, which are essential for fault-tolerant quantum computations.
Universal Quantum has also come up with a solution to the wiring problem of quantum computers with the development of the first commercial Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). This is tailored for integration into their Quantum Processing Units (iQPUs) and enhances quantum error correction by a factor of six.
The great work being done at Universal Quantum hasn’t gone unnoticed by experts in the industry, and it won the IOP Business Start-Up Award in 2022 for its inventions.
Shaping the Future of Quantum Computing
For quantum computing to spread around the world and replace existing devices, it will need pioneering companies like Universal Quantum to keep coming up with innovative solutions to key problems with the technology. There are loads of others around the world working towards this outcome, but it’s great to have a Brighton-based company in on the act as well.
It’s clear that Universal Quantum is obsessed with bringing scalable and reliable quantum computing to the masses and to ensure that they are at the forefront of the growing industry. The great work that the company is doing will make it easier for other startups to add to the evolution of the sector in the years ahead.
