World first operating system breakthrough puts quantum computing on a chip

The first quantum operating system is now available on a chip thanks to Cambridge-based quantum specialist Riverlane’s work with New York and London-based digital quantum company Seeqc.

The control chip achieves quantum advantage using a fraction of the space necessary in previous hardware.

The sensational breakthrough is equivalent to the moment during the 1960s in traditional computing when computers shrunk from being room-sized to being sat on top of a desk.

Seeqc is developing the first fully digital quantum computing platform for global businesses, based in Elmsford, New York, with facilities in London, UK and Naples, Italy, Seeqc applies classical and quantum technology through digital readout and control technology and a unique chip-scale architecture.

Cambridge-based Riverlane is heading a consortium financed by a £7.6m government grant which is tasked with building a quantum operating system. It announced the initial version of the world’s first quantum operating system, Deltaflow.OS, late last year.

Now, for the first time, a scalable quantum computer has been demonstrated featuring a quantum operating system running on a unique, chip-scale integrated quantum computing architecture.

Seeqc has achieved this breakthrough in partnership with Riverlane. The success represents a key demonstration of the portability of Deltaflow.OS.

“We’re headquartered in the US and have a major R&D site in the UK,” said Dr Matthew Hutchings, London-based chief product officer and co-founder of Seeqc. “Essentially we’re taking the Deltaflow operating system and putting it into chip.”

Seeqc’s UK team is focused on design and system integration.

“We’ve worked closely with Riverlane, they’re our technical partner,” said Dr Hutchings. “We decided the quantum hardware programme needed to very closely integrate with the software. We took the OS core and optimised it for hardware at the interface.”

The wafer developed by Seeqc controls a version of Riverlane’s Deltaflow.OS

Tight integration of Deltaflow.OS on Seeqc’s platform will enable Seeqc to maximise the low-latency performance available through its chip-scale technology. Low-latency performance is important for running quantum algorithms efficiently and achieving quantum advantage.

By: Mike Scialom  mike.scialom@iliffemedia.co.uk

From:  https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/business/world-first-operating-system-breakthrough-puts-quantum-compu-9204744/