Ultrafast quantum device aims for commercial debut: What does it mean for quantum computing

Researchers from the University of Arizona have showcased a device that is supposed to revolutionize computing. And they want to bring it to the commercial market within the next few years.

The device relies on a quantum phenomenon called quantum tunneling, which could eventually lead to processing speeds in the petahertz range – over 1,000 times faster than modern computer chips.

“Ultrafast computers will greatly assist discoveries in space research, chemistry, health care, and more," said Mohammed Hassan, an associate professor of physics and optical sciences.

That’s pretty much the same we hear about quantum chips, developed by Google, Microsoft, and IBM, among others. But how does this transistor, dubbed the Petahertz Quantum Phototransistor (Peta QPT 1.0), compare to quantum chips developed by the tech giants?

“Our transistor operates based on light-field-induced quantum tunneling, switching ON and OFF at petahertz speeds – every half-cycle of the light field effectively representing a quantum bit (qubit). In contrast, quantum chips rely on quantum superposition and entanglement.

Superposition allows qubits to exist in multiple states simultaneously, enabling highly parallel computations, while entanglement connects the states of distant qubits. So while both technologies leverage quantum phenomena, they do so in fundamentally different ways and could be complementary depending on the application,” Hassan told Cybernews in an email.

The problem with technology leveraging quantum entanglement is high error rates. As I’ve explained here, the most pressing challenge when it comes to developing quantum computers is their building block — the qubit.

For now, qubits are highly affected by their surroundings (temperature, magnetic fields, etc.) and have a very short lifespan. A topological qubit could be an answer, and two companies are working on it. However, it’s also far from hitting the commercial market.

Could a team of scientists have found a better solution to approach the quantum phenomenon?

“Traditional quantum computing methods face significant challenges due to noise and decoherence, which often result in faulty measurements. In contrast, our approach utilizes quantum tunneling, which is a nearly instantaneous process that responds directly to the light field. This reduces error rates and improves reliability,” Hassan told me.

He didn’t say how expensive their technology might be, just that they believed it could be made economically viable with further development.

Currently, the team is working with industry partners and hopes to bring it to the commercial market within the next few years.