Annual Report 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 A synthetic diamond on a microwave transmission line illuminated by a green laser. Atom-sized crystal defects inside the diamond are used as microscopic heat machines to explore thermodynamics in the quantum regime/Jonas Becker Front cover: A micro-machined enclosure for a superconducting circuit for quantum computing, designed for scalability/Peter Spring CONTENTS Contents Foreword ................................................................................ 3 Applications & Software ................................................25 Secure Network Applications.......................................25 Introduction ......................................................................... 4 Quantum Enabled Applications ..................................25 Programme Structure ..................................................... 5 Quantum/Classical Emulation and Interfacing .......26 Achievements ................................................................... 6 NQIT Consortium ............................................................. 7 Wider Engagement ...........................................................29 UK Partners Map .............................................................. 8 Public Engagement .......................................................29 Industry and Strategic Partners ................................... 9 Responsible Research and Innovation ......................29 People .............................................................................. 10 Inter-Hub Collaboration ................................................30 Quantum Computing in a Global Context ................. 13 Skills & Training ................................................................33 Industry Engagement ..................................................... 15 Future Plans........................................................................35 Collaboration................................................................... 15 Impact and Industry Achievements .......................... 15 Outputs.................................................................................36 Industrial Engagement ................................................ 16 Publications ....................................................................36 Quantum Readiness and IBM Q Partnership............ 16 Talks ..................................................................................39 Other Engagements ...................................................... 17 Engagement Activities ................................................. 41 NQIT in the News ...........................................................43 Hardware & Engineering ................................................ 19 Ion Trap Node Engineering .......................................... 19 Resources ............................................................................44 Photonic Network Engineering ...................................20 Alternative Qubits ..........................................................20 Atom-photon Interfaces ............................................... 21 Core Engineering Capabilities ..................................... 21 Architecture Progress ...................................................22 1 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 2 Photo credit: Imperial College London FOREWORD Foreword In its fourth year, NQIT continues to lead the UK’s efforts in quantum computing, having made significant progress in its hardware programme of developing quantum networks for computing and simulation, in its software and application programme developing algorithms and protocols for using such machines and in building a larger user community for current and future quantum computing devices. We have achieved some key milestones in device design, performance and fabrication that put the UK at the forefront of several platforms internationally. Our work takes in all aspects of the emerging The recently announced UK government quantum information technology economy in the commitment to continuing the UK Quantum UK – from collaborations with the supply chain Technologies Programme for a further 5-year to engaging with the emerging software sector programme – together with a new world-first National through to growing a base of skills and awareness. Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) – will accelerate Responsible research and innovation initiatives and the progress towards a quantum computer, and continued engagement through broader community will keep the UK at the forefront of this global race. and public outreach activities are designed to ensure Increased leadership from the emerging industry the widest positive impact of quantum computing so sector, harnessing the Industrial Strategy Challenge that the UK becomes a fully quantum-literate nation. Fund, has enabled new and stronger partnerships between universities and businesses, helping to Significant benchmarks have been achieved in establish the sector and supply chain. the underpinning hardware and core technologies necessary for a quantum network, reaching The results of the first phase of the UK Programme world-beating performance levels in trapped were also considered in detail in 2018 by the House ion logic gates, developing new approaches to of Commons Science & Technology Committee’s superconducting circuits and photonic network Quantum Technologies enquiry, to which we provided components, as well as delivering new science written and oral evidence. The Committee’s report, arising from the precise control and manipulation of endorsed by the Government, urges that quantum quantum systems. On the software and applications technologies offer the potential for significant side, the emulator project is already expanding the economic growth and improved capabilities across range of possible users by enabling them to assess multiple industry sectors. whether their core business applications can be enhanced by running on a quantum computer. The More than three quarters of the way through NQIT’s emulation work is supported by software engineering five-year programme, it is heartening to see NQIT’s that provides a “front door” for new users. vision becoming a reality, positioning the UK to be a leader in delivering the next information revolution. R&D collaborations in industry-led projects have contributed to understanding more about market forces and the potential use for quantum computing technology by established and new ventures. We have seen growth in the number of collaborations via our user projects, which continue to rise. We have also seen a sharp increase in the number of events, meetings and presentations to industry about future applications and the potential impact of quantum computing. A successful engagement with the space sector, has explored the potential for quantum Professor Ian Walmsley FRS computing in addressing emerging challenges. Director of NQIT We have defined key areas for further exploration at Provost & Chair in Experimental Physics, a quantum computing hackathon that will be a first Imperial College London for NQIT. 3 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Introduction The Networked Quantum Information Technologies Hub (NQIT) is the largest of the four Hubs in the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme, a £270 million investment over four years (2014 – 2019) by the UK government to establish a quantum technology industry in the UK. Aim Technology overview Since the commencement of NQIT in 2014 we have Our goal, in collaboration with government, industry significantly progressed our ion trap engineering. and the wider community, is to develop the first We have connected our ion trap ‘processors’, and truly scalable universal quantum computing the engineering required to control these systems machine. The architectures that NQIT is developing is well-advanced. Significant progress has been have the highest performance of any current qubit made in emerging qubit technologies, including new system, and we are advancing on the path to create approaches for controlling superconducting qubits such a machine. We are building a new industry and new methods for preparing qubits in diamonds, sector around quantum information technology, where a new process to write qubits is yielding from the supply chain, through the build and promising results. We have also demonstrated operation, to programming and use of quantum enabling technologies such as wavelength computers. Our vision is for the UK to become the conversion, and these technologies may become centre of a global quantum information processing future products and components in the supply chain industry, with a rich mixture of research, innovation for quantum and other industries. We are developing and commercialisation. the software systems to program and operate our quantum computing machine and are working on our own quantum computing emulator platform for high Objectives performance computers, which will enable scientists Our key objectives are to: in research and industry to develop algorithms and applications for the emerging hardware. Demonstrate a scalable quantum computing architecture based on ion qubits and photonic Wider Engagement networks We have expanded our programme of public Advance promising emerging and enabling engagement activities and continue to work closely quantum information processing technologies with the other Quantum Technology Hubs to deliver Seed and develop the commercialisation of these on Responsible Innovation, public engagement and technologies