Quantum first puts Queensland industry on front foot
Professor Arkady Fedorov and Dr Prassana Pakkiam build the gold frame which holds the quantum processor in the refrigeration unit.
(Photo credit: The University of Queensland )
Australia’s first open access quantum testbed is positioning Queensland as a leader in developing quantum technologies, capability and businesses, while giving industry access to world-class infrastructure.
The $10.8 million facility at The University of Queensland removes a hardware roadblock facing industry, technology startups and researchers.
UQ project lead Professor Arkady Fedorov said the National Quantum Computing Testbed is a game changer for innovation in Australia.
“This testbed will give independent developers and researchers affordable access to cutting-edge quantum hardware for early-stage testing of their ideas,” Professor Fedorov said.
“Its small-scale processors will test new technologies before they’re ready to use large-scale quantum hardware – helping to bridge the gap between early-stage development and commercial innovation.
“Lowering a barrier to proof-of-concept testing in quantum research puts Australia on the front foot for quantum hardware development and ensures our people are building valuable skills for the future.”
Now open for business, the testbed is a 5-qubit quantum computer built on a superconductor platform with potential to upgrade capacity in the future.
Qubits or quantum bits are the basic unit of information used to encode data in quantum computing, similar to a bit in everyday computers.
The quantum processors, held on a gold-plated frame, are chilled to minus 273 degrees Celsius by 2 dilution refrigerators, protecting them from electrical noise interference.
A quantum processor prior to being installed in the testbed.
(Photo credit: The University of Queensland)
Minister for Science and Innovation Andrew Powell said the Crisafulli Government was backing Queensland’s emerging quantum technology sector.
“Queensland innovation and science is among the best in the world, and facilities like the National Quantum Computing Testbed are helping position our State as a leader in this rapidly emerging field,” Minister Powell said.
“Quantum technology is creating new opportunities for industry, entrepreneurs and researchers, and investments like this help drive local innovation, economic growth and jobs of the future here in Queensland.”
The National Quantum Computing Testbed cements UQ as a national leader in quantum technology.
UQ hosts the ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology (QUBIC), leads Quantum Australia’s Queensland Node in partnership with Griffith University, and is building on a strong legacy in quantum research through its leadership of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS).
L-R: Professor Arkady Fedorov (UQ), CSIRO Head of Quantum Systems Professor Muhammad Usman, UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Sue Harrison, Minister for Science and Innovation Andrew Powell and Dr William Campbell (UQ).
(Photo credit: The University of Queensland)
Collaboration and acknowledgements
The National Quantum Computing Testbed facility is funded by the Queensland Government through the Quantum and Advanced Technologies Commercialisation Infrastructure Program and was constructed in partnership with Australia’s national science agency CSIRO and QuantWare, Rohde & Schwarz, and Zurich Instruments.
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