Quantum Computing: Sci-Fi Technology Requires Real-World Engineering

A decade after demonstrating the first entanglement of semiconducting spin quantum bits, or qubits, Oliver Dial and IBM Quantum are developing the ICs, cryogenic systems, error mitigation techniques, and software tools that will identify solutions to problems beyond the scope of classical computers. Recently, the IBM Quantum team announced the Heron 133-qubit and Condor 1,121-qubit quantum processors, and Dial joins us to talk about a subject that he loves.

The highlights of this conversation between Dial and our Moore’s Lobby host, Daniel Bogdanoff, include:

• A comparison of quantum and classic Turing computing systems.
• Temperatures down to 0.1 kelvin (brrr!) to noise temperatures of 30,000 kelvin (hotter than the sun, but not really).
• An audio symphony of quantum circuits running computations from around the world.
• Qubits are probably much bigger than you would expect.
• Why packaging engineers are the unsung heroes of the semiconductor and quantum industries.
• Semiconductor engineers telling quantum engineers, “you guys are doing these all wrong.”
• The technology advance in the newer Heron processor that Dial is most excited about.