A programmable two-qubit quantum processor in silicon

A two-qubit quantum processor in a silicon device is demonstrated, which can perform the Deutsch–Josza algorithm and the Grover search algorithm. Taken for a spin in silicon The development of platforms for spin-based quantum computing continues apace. The individual components of such a system have been the subject of much investigation, and they have been assembled to implement specific quantum-computational algorithms. Thomas Watson and colleagues have now taken such component integration and control to the next level. Using two single-electron-spin qubits in a silicon-based double quantum dot, they realize a system that can be simply programmed to perform different quantum algorithms on demand. Now that it is possible to achieve measurement and control fidelities for individual quantum bits (qubits) above the threshold for fault tolerance, attention is moving towards the difficult task of scaling up the number of physical qubits to the large numbers that are needed for fault-tolerant quantum computing 1 , 2 . In this context, quantum-dot-based spin qubits could have substantial advantages over other types of qubit owing to their potential for all-electrical operation and ability to be integrated at high density onto an industrial platform 3 , 4 , 5 . Initialization, readout and single- and two-qubit gates have been demonstrated in various quantum-dot-based qubit representations 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 . However, as seen with small-scale demonstrations of quantum computers using other types of qubit 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , combining these elements leads to challenges related to qubit crosstalk, state leakage, calibration and control hardware. Here we overcome these challenges by using carefully designed control techniques to demonstrate a programmable two-qubit quantum processor in a silicon device that can perform the Deutsch–Josza algorithm and the Grover search algorithm—canonical examples of quantum algorithms that outperform their classical analogues. We characterize the entanglement in our processor by using quantum-state tomography of Bell states, measuring state fidelities of 85–89 per cent and concurrences of 73–82 per cent. These results pave the way for larger-scale quantum computers that use spins confined to quantum dots.