The distinctive high-pitched tweeting sound fills the air in the sterile data center on the outskirts of Reading. Gerald Mullally, chief executive of Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC), explains that the noise is coming from a quantum computer. These machines, which tap into the mysteries of the quantum realm, have the potential to be far more powerful than even the fastest conventional supercomputers.
The quantum computers at OQC are kept at ultra-cold temperatures, way colder than anything found in nature. Most of the hardware is performing the function of a sophisticated fridge, with the quantum processor hanging below the cables and tubes. This chip, only slightly bigger than a Sim card, is where the magic happens.
OQC, founded by Oxford University physicists in 2017, is using its quantum computers to help devise more efficient timetables for the Department for Transport, predict natural disasters for the ratings agency Moody’s, and crunch health data for life sciences organizations. They are also working with a motorsport company to eke out any advantage they can. Security is taken very seriously at OQC.
Visitors must show their passport and pass through eight hefty security doors.
Quantum computing breakthroughs at OQC
The potential value of the computers and their intricate design goes far beyond the cost of buying one.
According to McKinsey consultancy, by 2035 the market for quantum computing will reach up to £55 billion and the revolution in computing power will have a £1.5 trillion economic impact on various sectors. Britain is betting on the potential of quantum computing. The £140 million National Quantum Computing Centre will open next month at Harwell, Oxfordshire.
Work is under way to construct 12 quantum computers at the site, eight by private tech businesses and four by government scientists, to be completed by March. Quantum computers work differently from conventional computers. Instead of bits, they use qubits, which can be made of atoms, photons, or electrons.
Qubits follow the principles of quantum mechanics and can exist in different states simultaneously until measured. Scientists believe quantum computing could revolutionize areas such as cryptography, drug discovery, financial modeling, and logistics. However, researchers and engineers are still in the early stages of realizing its full potential.
As these quantum machines evolve, our understanding of the universe and our ability to harness its power will undergo a profound transformation.
