Archer enters second stage of quantum chip development
Technology
Australian company Archer Materials is using world-class Swiss infrastructure to test its 12CQ chip technology, which it aims to use to build a quantum computing qubit processor chip.
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Archer uses a unique carbon-based qubit material that has the potential to enable chip operation at room-temperature and integration with modern electronic devices.
A qubit processor is the most crucial hardware component of a quantum computer and consists of a core device (a chip) made from materials capable of processing quantum information necessary to solve complex calculations.
Based in Adelaide, South Australia and Sydney, Archer has begun its second stage of chip development, performing measurements on the chip qubit components at various facilities at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland. Archer CEO Dr Mohammad Choucair recently visited EPFL to secure the long-term commitment of expert quantum technology R&D personnel, and access to the world-class equipment required to advance chip development.
He said the quantum measurements would form the basis of the chip function – essentially the ‘quantum’ in quantum computing.
“One of Archer’s key development goals is to demonstrate and accelerate the potential for the 12CQ chip integration in modern devices, particularly over the next 12 months,” Dr Choucair said.
“The measurements are not routine; we will now expand on Archer’s chip development capabilities to include contributing teams at the world-class EPFL to accelerate the development and commercial readiness of the 12CQ chip.”
The measurements to be performed at EPFL will complement the work undertaken by Archer’s in-house team at the University of Sydney’s Research and Prototype Foundry.
Archer CEO Dr Mohammad Choucair at the world-class institute EPFL in Switzerland.
The outcomes and results of the various quantum measurements will be used to validate claims in the patents protecting the chip technology intellectual property and to advance the commercial readiness of the chip.
The technical development at the heart of 12CQ is claimed by Archer to be a world-first. The company intends to devise, design, and perform a number of quantum measurements on the chip prototype qubit componentry over the next 12 months in-line with its strategic chip development roadmap and commercialisation plan.
Archer successfully began assembling chip prototypes in mid-2019 and recently demonstrated the possibility of qubit scalability in fabrication by precisely positioning the critical chip qubit component.
The development of quantum computers is envisioned to impact industries reliant on computational power, including finance, cryptocurrency and blockchain.
The successful development of the 12CQ room-temperature qubit processor chip could potentially overcome both the limitations of low operating temperatures and electronic device integration for qubits and would represent a breakthrough solution to the widespread use and ownership of quantum computing powered technology.
Dr Choucair invented the first material known to overcome the limitations of sub-zero (cryogenic) operating temperatures and electronic device integration for qubits. The conducting carbon material was able to process quantum information at room temperature3 and offered the potential for scalability.
Founded in Adelaide, the company began trading on the Australian Securities Exchange as Archer Exploration in 2007. It changed its name to changed its name to Archer Materials in November 2019 to better reflect the growing Advanced materials development side of its business.
Its high-value mineral exploration targets are mainly in South Australia and include graphite, kaolin, copper and nickel.
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