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MicroQC Project
MICROwave-driven ion trap Quantum Computing (MicroQC) will build the components necessary for a scalable quantum computer which outperforms the best classical computers in certain computational tasks.
This project addresses the long-term vision of making large-scale quantum computing feasible with truly scalable microwave-driven quantum logic on a chip. MicroQC is a high-risk and high-return visionary project that belongs to topic (a) Fundamental Science of this Call. Its results are directly linked to three other thematic areas: (b) Quantum Computing Systems, (c) Quantum simulation, (d) Quantum Metrology and Sensing. The project will mature the novel, challenging and very thriving area of microwave-driven quantum logic towards the development of a truly transformative approach to quantum computation. One of the key advantages of this approach is that it is possible to replace pairs of laser beams previously required for quantum gate implementation with the application of voltages to a microchip. Considering one would have needed potentially billions of such pairs of laser beams to construct a large scale quantum computer, developing this new approach may be critical in building large scale machines. This project will provide a major push in this direction with numerous long-term implications.
This project will make this possible by combining the efforts of five major experimental and theoretical groups in Europe in this field. The leading experimental groups in microwave-driven trapped-ion quantum logic — the pioneers who developed the initial idea with static (USIEGEN, UOS) and oscillating (LUH) magnetic fields to full scale research — combine efforts with the two theory groups that developed the main theoretical advances (TCPA and HUJI) to push this emerging approach to new levels and set the ground for several breakthroughs towards scalable quantum computing devices and ultimately contribute to quantum computing, simulation and sensing activities within the flagship's work programme. New synergies will emerge from the strong connections between the three pillars of the project: theory and two complementary experimental approaches (static and oscillating gradients). Only such a combination can assemble the critical mass to realize step-changing progress that will alter current scientific practice to allow for the realization of ground-breaking new technology. Consequently, we expect dramatic improvement of scalability of the newly developed technologies, well beyond the existing small-scale demonstrations of quantum computing devices.
To this end, we plan to produce a Roadmap of microwave quantum computation to high technology readiness levels. It will build upon the existing ''Blueprint for a microwave ion trap quantum computer'' recently prepared by some of the members of this consortium.
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