Science
First quantum computer for less than a million euros
Already available for less than one million euros: The quantum computer “IQM Spark” from the German-Finnish start-up IQM. photo
© -/IQM Quantum Computers /dpa
Quantum computers are considered to be a crucial future technology. So far, however, only a few universities and laboratories have used them because acquisition and operation cost millions of euros. That should change now.
The German-Finnish start-up IQM is the first provider worldwide to launch a superconducting quantum computer for universities and laboratories that costs less than one million euros. The company announced this on Wednesday in Munich. So far, only temporary access to remote quantum computers via the Internet was possible in this price category. Unlike cloud access to quantum computing hardware, students can use the new “IQM Spark” not only to perform real quantum calculations, but also to get to know all the supporting hardware on site.
Quantum computing enables the calculation of algorithms necessary for today computers are too complex. This applies, for example, to applications in the areas of encryption, machine learning and artificial intelligence, security and simulation. Operation requires, among other things, the use of complex low-temperature technology. Quantum computers usually only work reliably if certain lines are cooled to close to absolute zero (minus 273.15 degrees Celsius).
Theoretically infinitely many states
Quantum computers work very differently from binary computers – with so-called qubits. Like a bit in a classical computer, a qubit can be in either the 1 or 0 state. However, the qubit has a special property that the classic bit does not have: A qubit can also be in the states 1 and 0 at the same time or in a theoretically infinite number of states in between. As a result, a quantum computer can calculate certain tasks much faster than classic computer systems.
The IQM Spark is intended to advance science around the topic of quantum computing at universities and in research laboratories. “On-site installed quantum hardware is currently only available from very few providers,” said Dieter Kranzlmüller, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Leibniz Computing Center of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences (LRZ). However, it is difficult to make cutting-edge technology available for learning purposes. The IQM Spark can therefore make an important contribution to solving three major challenges: availability of hardware, access to learning resources and high prices.