Rigetti UK, a subordinate of Rigetti Computing, in alliance with Oxford Instruments NanoScience, has celebrated the conclusion of a critical three-year project targeted on the creation and establishment of one of the pioneering quantum computers in the UK. The project is part of a £10 million consortium with participants like the Quantum Software Lab at the University of Edinburgh, Phasecraft, and Standard Chartered Bank, symbolizing a considerable leap in the evolution of quantum computing in the UK.
The endeavor was considerably supported by the UK government’s Quantum Technologies Challenge fund, managed by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI). The underlying objective was to expedite the process of commercial application of quantum computing within the UK, augment the national quantum computing structure and supply chain, and nurture local expertise in the field.
The efforts of the consortium culminated in the establishment of the 32-qubit Aspen-class quantum computer, which is Rigetti’s maiden quantum system functioning in the UK. This sophisticated system was embedded into Oxford Instruments Tubney Woods establishment, utilizing their ProteoxLX dilution refrigerator, a state-of-the-art cryogenic system required for the computer operation. The establishment was specifically built to ensure seamless operation of the quantum computer, equipped with auxiliary power and resilient cooling systems to maintain stable temperature and moisture levels, thereby optimizing uptime.
The quantum computer was made accessible to UK partners through Rigetti’s Quantum Cloud Services (QCS), enabling remote cloud-based interaction with the system for the development of quantum applications and algorithms. This collaborative approach utilized the unique strengths of each consortium member. For instance, the Quantum Software Lab at the University of Edinburgh was tasked with creating new methods for testing quantum hardware and verifying quantum program performance. In the financial sector, Standard Chartered Bank delved into quantum machine learning applications, while Phasecraft applied its expertise in quantum algorithms and software for material design and simulation projects.
This consortium not only demonstrated the practical applications of quantum computing in fields ranging from machine learning to material simulation but also significantly contributed to the UK’s strategic position in the global quantum technology landscape.
“Through this collaboration, our research team was able to expand and rename the Quantum Software Lab (QSL) at the University of Edinburgh in addition to pursuing significant work on quantum algorithms to further benchmark quantum devices using actual quantum hardware,” said Professor Elham Kashefi, Director of the Quantum Software Lab and Professor of Quantum Computing at the University of Edinburgh. “We are already using the methods and procedures created for this project to further our comprehension of what practical quantum computers must have.”
To further expand its quantum computing capabilities in the UK, Rigetti recently revealed that it had won a UKRI competition to supply the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) with a 24-qubit quantum computing system built on the company’s most recent Ankaa-class chip architecture.
“It is an amazing accomplishment for all of the project partners to finish this project and produce a functional 32-qubit quantum computer. Building and implementing a quantum computer requires an elite team,” said Dr. Subodh Kulkarni, CEO at Rigetti. “With regard to quantum computing technology, the UK has emerged as a global leader, and we are eager to keep advancing the field’s potential. In addition, Rigetti intends to use this knowledge to advance our leadership in UK quantum computing as we begin the installation of a 24-qubit Ankaa-class quantum computer at the NQCC’s Harwell campus.”
