The news, announced at IBM Quantum Summit, highlights IBM’s hardware progress. Last year, IBM outlined its hardware and software roadmaps. By 2025, IBM is projecting that there will be frictionless quantum computing to enable a broad array of applications that will surpass classical computing.
Quantum computing is a hot market as IonQ shares have been surging amid pacts with Accenture and Softbank. Honeywell Quantum and Cambridge Quantum will combine forces and likely go public. IBM also expects quantum to become a big part of its business over time to build out the ecosystem.
The CIO’s guide to quantum computing
Eagle represents a big step toward scaling quantum computing and is the company’s first processor to contain more than 100 qubits, said Bob Sutor, chief quantum exponent at IBM. “Eagle is a punctuation point of where we are and that everything is on track,” said Sutor. IBM has deployed about 50 quantum systems to date with about 20 available via the cloud. IBM also has two quantum systems installed outside of the US. Eagle was manufactured in IBM’s own fabrication plant, but Sutor noted that the volumes aren’t high. For now, IBM is using its processors on its own systems.
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According to IBM, Eagle leverages new techniques that place control components on multiple physical levels while keeping qubits on a single layer. “Building quantum processors is a lot more complicated because of the nature of qubits and how they all need to work together,” said Sutor, who added that it’s critical to eliminate interference. The upshot of that Eagle 3D packaging architecture is that more usable qubits can be used. Sutor added that Eagle couldn’t be completely simulated on a classical computer. In a blog post, IBM outlined Eagle’s architecture. Eagle will be made available to select members of the IBM Quantum Network in December. Here’s a look at Eagle unstacked. IBM also previewed its Quantum System Two, which is designed to work with processors with more than 1,000 qubits. IBM Quantum System Two will be more modular with the ability to house and cool multiple processors in one system. This Quantum System Two architecture enables customers to manipulate and test portions of the system without affecting the entire setup. The latest quantum system from IBM will be up and running in 2023 at IBM Research. On the modularity of Quantum System Two, IBM said: Sutor didn’t provide goals for the number of IBM Quantum System Two to be deployed. Sutor, however, was optimistic that IBM can use Quantum System Two to expand its footprint. The COVID-19 pandemictaught IBM engineers how to deploy quantum systems remotely. “We learned a lot of techniques and methodology from having other people install and support remote systems,” said Sutor. “It’s similar to how NASA has had to instruct astronauts in space to make repairs.”
