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Intel Horse Ridge is a rather cool chip for quantum computers
Designed to act as a radio frequency (RF) processor to control the qubits operating in the refrigerator, Horse Ridge is programmed with instructions that correspond to basic qubit operations. It translates those instructions into electromagnetic microwave pulses that can manipulate the state of the qubits.
Named for one of the coldest regions in Oregon, the Horse Ridge control chip was designed to operate at cryogenic temperatures — approximately 4 Kelvin. To put this in context, 4 Kelvin is only warmer than absolute zero — a temperature so cold that atoms nearly stop moving.
This feat is particularly exciting as Intel progresses its research into silicon spin qubits, which have the potential to operate at slightly higher temperatures than current quantum systems require.
Today, a quantum computer operates at in the millikelvin range — just a fraction of a degree above absolute zero. But silicon spin qubits have properties that could allow them to operate at 1 Kelvin or higher temperatures, which would dramatically reduce the challenges of refrigerating the quantum system.
As research progresses, Intel aims to have cryogenic controls and silicon spin qubits operate at the same temperature level. This will enable the company to leverage its expertise in advanced packaging and interconnect technologies to create a solution with the qubits and controls in one streamlined package.
Also at AnandTech.
(Score: 4, Informative) by aristarchus on Wednesday December 11 2019, @05:01AM (6 children)
What if it was 2.5 Kelvin? Would that be warmer than absolute zero? Asking for a friend.
(Score: 2) by coolgopher on Wednesday December 11 2019, @05:32AM (5 children)
Well according to TFA, 2.5 Kelvin would in fact be warmer than (or as-warm as) 4 Kelvin...
(Score: 1, Troll) by aristarchus on Wednesday December 11 2019, @06:23AM (2 children)
My point exactly. Could we have more actual scientists, or mathematicians, on the editorial staff of SoylentNews? Gaffs like this are why I am embarrassed to submit articles on the alt-right!
(Score: 2) by coolgopher on Wednesday December 11 2019, @11:08AM (1 child)
Hey now, that's in the actual FA, not editorialized. If we never linked to something with stupidity in the articles, we'd have a rather barren feed.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 11 2019, @12:39PM
Don't worry, it's just aristarchus being a wounded animal. A quantum jackass.
(Score: 2) by maxwell demon on Wednesday December 11 2019, @09:51AM (1 child)
Well, maybe their quantum computer also quantizes temperature, with a temperature quantum of 4K. ;-)
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 2) by coolgopher on Wednesday December 11 2019, @11:09AM
Or maybe their quantum controls are of ultra high definition...