Hackinar: Quantum Computer Build Project
A Hacker's Approach to Quantum Engineering
What we're doing
We're embarking on an ambitious engineering challenge: building our own quantum computer from scratch. This isn't about purchasing an IKEA quantum computer and assembling it at home, it's a genuine hacker project. We want to buy off-the-shelf components where possible, but we'll not only figure out and decide what components we need, weβll also learn how to connect them without qubits seeping out at the links. This approach will teach us more about quantum computers than a project that comes with ready made instructions, and it would also, if successful, open up a substantial design space that we can explore ourselves.
In the quantum seminar in this fall, together we will
- Get an overview over the architectures that make sense for us
- Explore the available pathways
- Identify components available for purchase
- Identify elements we would have to design ourselves (fabrication to order)
- Understand what constraints govern the connections between the components and elements
- Ultimately, make a decision whether the Estonian-made quantum computer can be realized by us at this time.
WARNING
I assume everybody understands that a large chunk of the probability rests firmly with failure:
- We may have a lot of fun designing, learning, and planning, but might ultimately hit a snag where the landscape of components that can be bought is simply insufficient or the skill requirements for the connections or for designing our own elements are just too high;
- If we can build it, once it's assembled, there's still a substantial chance that when we switch it on what happens is absolutely nothing, and we'll have to go back to the drawing board (possibly deciding that it wasn't as easy as we thought).
- The components cost money, and there's no guarantee that we'll get funding for it.
Required background
This offer is mainly directed at studentsΒΉ of (alphabetically) computer engineering, computer science, math, and physics (or whatever it is called these days) on bachelor level, and on master's level if you haven't chosen a specialization yet.
If you think you don't know enough quantum physics for this, you're right. In the seminar, we will also teach each other, filling in the missing detailed understanding of the technologies we are considering. However, we want to take a do-it beats study-it approach to the physics β teaching all the background would clearly be utterly infeasible.
In order to have a reasonable starting point, we require that you:
- Have taken Fundamentals of Quantum Computing (FunQ) LTFY.04.012 or are taking it in parallel
- Know how to multiply matrices
- Know how to divide complex numbers
- Can control your panic when you read something like: π’'(π‘) = β(π‘)π’(π‘) (where ' is derivative), aka very ordinary differential equation.
Not for the faint of heart
Will we fail? Maybe! Well we regret trying? Hell no! Join us if you dare!
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ΒΉ) We are starting this at UTartu, but would collab with TalTech as soon as we think this crazy idea might actually fly. So, if you're a TalTech student eager to join, please reach out to one of us, and we'll loop you in from the start.