That ‘thrills’ analogy was based on the idea that perhaps there will be positive announcements in the interim - even if the full development of 12CQ and the AXE Biochip does until 2029 or 2031.
And this evening - from a completely ignorant start - I’ve tried to learn a little bit about quantum computing but all I’ve gathered is that it’s a hot topic, that China says it intends to lead the way, [ref 31/91/24] and establish itself at the forefront of “the industries of the future,” and that, as per the Pitt Street Research report reference above not even Microsoft and IBM are past early research and development stage.
FWIW to anyone new out there, here’s a May 2020 story from the AFR on the new form of AXE
ASX-listed quantum computing hardware firm enters IBM club Yolanda RedrupRich List co-editor
May 5, 2020 – 12.01am
Archer, a former minerals explorer turned ASX-listed materials tech company, has become the first Australian quantum computing hardware firm to be accepted into the IBM Q Network, which is working to advance the industry. Dr Mohammad Choucair says the company's carbon material allows qubits to be entangled at room temperature.
The company, which started out as a junior miner and listed in 2007, has developed a patented carbon-based material, which it says can be used to create a quantum computing chip (called 12CQ) that can be operated at room temperature, rather than the freezing temperatures usually required.
The IBM Q Network is made up of global leaders in the quantum computing field, who are given access to IBM's advanced quantum systems. By being a part of it, Archer can access IBM's open-source software development framework Qiskit and form partnerships with other members.
Local quantum computing software company Q-CTRL is also a member of the IBM Q Network. While classical computers run on a binary system of zeros and ones, quantum computers run on qubits, which can be both zero and one at the same time, a state known as superposition. The Archer chip could be significant because so far qubits have had to be kept in absolute zero temperatures (minus 273.15 degrees celsius) to be stable.
This has been a big barrier for quantum scientists to overcome as it limits the scalability of the machines, and any commercial applications have had to be tied to the cloud. Disordered structure
Archer Materials chief executive Mohammad Choucair said the disordered structure of the atoms making up the company's qubits, which are made from burnt naphthalene (the active ingredient in mothballs), meant the qubits could function at normal temperatures.
"If it's not simple, it's not the right answer. It's carbon-based, we can make a lot of it, we can handle it, it has a long shelf life, we can take it in and out of labs and it's not hazardous compared to other qubit materials," he said.
"Scientists have also used graphene and diamond, which are also carbon-based . . . but they're not as good as this material.
"You can also use super-conducting alloys or silicon at low temperatures, but they have to be cooled down because when there is heat around, the atoms vibrate and it destroys the information."
Archer pivoted from being an explorer to a quantum computing tech company through a back-door listing of Dr Choucair's start-up, Carbon Allotropes, which Archer acquired in 2017.
Dr Choucair has a PhD in chemistry and was previously awarded the Royal Australian Chemical Institute Cornforth medal for it. He has also been an adviser to the World Economic Forum.
The power of quantum computers is unlocked when many qubits are in superposition. This also allows for entanglement, wherein the quantum state of one object is dependent on the other: switch one and you switch the other instantly. The creation of these states will allow for the solving of complex scientific problems that classical computers cannot comprehend.
So far, Archer has created one qubit using its material and is in the process of performing control experiments on this before it embarks on creating a second qubit and attempts to achieve superposition and the state of entanglement. This could take years. IBM, which utilises silicon for its qubits, has already created a 53-qubit quantum computer, as has Google, while local researchers at UNSW have created a two-qubit one.
The University of Sydney is also working on a quantum computer, in partnership with Microsoft.
"Our collaboration with Archer will be a great example of the combination of Qiskit’s flexibility, integrating with different quantum hardware to accomplish the goal of enabling practical quantum computing applications,” said Dr Anthony Annunziata, director of the IBM Q Network, said.
Quantum computing ventures have long development timelines, but Dr Choucair said the company would be able to deliver shareholder value along the way.
"We add value to the industry and quantum economy," he said.
"We do that by overcoming high commercial barriers to entry and that translates to our intellectual property and we’d hope that translates to the share price.
"We can also license the IP and we intend to do that. When we develop a minimum viable product, which will have certain applications, we can directly sell that."
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… And I still know zilch about quantum computing ( I thought qubits was a biblical measurement used in building arks?) , but HongKongPhooey as far as you wanting timelines to live with, does Archer even know what these are?
(20min delay)