Google is expanding the scope of its quantum computing ambitions by teaming up with a group of university researchers to design and build its own quantum processors. The company announced its plans in a blog post on Tuesday.
The researchers come from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and are led by John Martinis. They have invented a new type of quantum computing array they claim is more reliable than previous attempts to build such systems. According to an April press release describing their research:
“The unique configuration of the group’s array results from the flexibility of geometry at the superconductive level, which allowed the scientists to create cross-shaped qubits they named Xmons. Superconductivity results when certain materials are cooled to a critical level that removes electrical resistance and eliminates magnetic fields. The team chose to place five Xmons in a single row, with each qubit talking to its nearest neighbor, a simple but effective arrangement.”
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