World's 'best-performing' quantum computing chip could be used in machines by 2027, scientists claim

British scientists say they have developed the world’s best-performing quantum computing chip — and it could find its way into a "usable" quantum computer by 2027.

The new chip uses an integrated control unit to regulate the state of qubits and, unlike typical quantum chips, can be mass produced using conventional semiconductor manufacturing processes.

Key to the technology is how it handles quantum bits, or qubits, the fundamental units of information in quantum computing.

One approach to controlling qubits in quantum computers is trapped ion technology. This involves isolating individual charged atoms (ions) in an electromagnetic field — known as an ion trap — and using lasers to precisely control their quantum state. Doing so allows ions to be manipulated and used as qubits to store and process quantum information.

While trapped ion technology is effective at keeping qubits stable, it is not scalable or practical due to the cost and complexity of laser technology.

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But a new chip developed by Oxford Ionics eschews lasers entirely, using a patented "Electronic Qubit Control" system to regulate the state of trapped ions. Because everything needed to control the qubits is integrated into the silicon, the new chip is more reliable and easier to produce at scale, the scientists said in a statement.