{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technology","title":"Quantum Co-design with Andrew Houck","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1771,"description":"\nIn this episode, your host Sebastian Hassinger sits down with Andrew Houck to explore the latest advancements and collaborative strategies in quantum computing. Houck shares insights from his leadership roles at both Princeton and the Center for Co-Design of Quantum Advantage (C2QA), focusing on how interdisciplinary efforts are pushing the boundaries of coherence times, materials science, and scalable quantum architectures. The conversation covers the importance of co-design across the quantum stack, the challenges and surprises in improving qubit performance, and the vision for the next era of quantum research.\n\nKEY TOPICS DISCUSSED\nMission of C2QA:\nThe central goal is to build the components necessary to move beyond the NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum) era into fault-tolerant quantum computing. This requires integrating expertise in materials, devices, software, error correction, and architecture to ensure compatibility and progress at every level.\nMaterials Breakthroughs:\nHouck discusses the surprising impact of using tantalum in superconducting qubits, which has significantly reduced surface losses compared to other metals. He explains the ongoing quest to identify and mitigate sources of decoherence, such as two-level systems (TLSs) and interface defects.\nCo-Design Philosophy:\nThe episode delves into two types of co-design:Vertical co-design: Aligning advances in materials, devices, error correction, and architecture to optimize the full quantum computing stack.\nCross-platform co-design: Bridging ideas and techniques across different qubit modalities and even across disciplines, such as applying methods from quantum sensing to quantum computing.\nError Correction Innovations:\nHouck highlights breakthroughs like using GKP states for error correction, which have achieved performance beyond the break-even point, thanks to improvements in materials and device design.\nBosonic Modes and Custom Architectures:\nThe conversation touches on leveraging native...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/0bJ0_ffy0r0O2l32QT5Tn9-3l9jtqpUcMVwNZnZXwRM/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yZmZl/YmRlZTAxNDY3MWJk/NmI2MGVkMGMxYmFh/MTM2Mi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}