U of S hosts first university-owned quantum computer

The University of Saskatchewan is acquiring the country's first university-owned quantum computer. Keenan Sorokan reports.

The University of Saskatchewan will soon be home to the first quantum computer in Canada – one that could eventually solve complex issues that aren’t even known yet.

“I would say that the candle is to the light bulb as, the ordinary computing chip is to this — that’s the leap with we’re talking about,” said Steven Rayan, director of the U of S’s Centre for Quantum Topology and Its Applications (quanTa).

Dozens of delegates, academics and partners gathered on campus Tuesday to unveil the first components of the quantum computer that now positions the U of S as a unique hub and research leader in the country.

Rayan has been waiting for this moment ever since he opened his first quantum computing textbook more than 25 years ago.

Speaking with students, researchers and media, Rayan held a quantum computing chip worth more than $1 million that can process information more than 100 orders of magnitude quicker than the technology available in the latest smartphone.

The U of S said researchers and students will be able to make research breakthroughs with quickening pace and precision – applying to fields like agriculture, health care, medicine and beyond.

As an example, Rayan said partnering with the U of S’ Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) could help more quickly determine if an intervention is necessary for a particularly concerning pathogen.

“Forget a year,” he said. “[We could] run through all the different possibilities, all at once, side by side and say, ‘A-ha! That’s the one that’s going to work.’ To do that in a few minutes -- I think that’s a real game changer.”

The first four parts of the quantum computer were secured thanks to $1.93 million from Prairies Economic Development Canada and another $400,000 from Innovation Saskatchewan.

One was part of a dilution fridge that will eventually be assembled to cool the computer to temperatures colder than temperatures of outer space while its in use.

Also revealed were two parts of the quantum processor, including what Rayan called “Canada’s most expensive hockey puck” at roughly $1 million, and a key box control cluster which allows the user to communicate with the chip.

When complete, the quantum computer will feature 14 quantum bits, called qubits. Rather than speaking in classical computer binary of 0 or 1, qubits exist as both 0 and 1 simultaneously to work in parallel -- and process calculations exponentially faster.

“These qubits in this chip, each one is not an on-off switch, it’s a dimmer switch. It can be on or off or anything in between -- and that anything in between is what makes this so much more powerful than an ordinary computer,” Rayan said.

Officials on hand for the announcement are confident that the computer not only furthers Saskatchewan as a research destination, it puts the U of S near the top of all Canadian research universities.

“Innovation is moving faster than ever, and Saskatchewan is truly keeping pace,” said Warren Kaeding, the minister responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan.

“And these advancements, they’re not theoretical. They represent practical opportunities to solve real problems … they’re going to strengthen key industries, and they’re going to enhance our global competitiveness by building quantum capacity here at home.”

U of S President Vince Bruni-Bossio says this gives students and researchers hands-on learning that can’t be found at other institutions in the country.

“The quantum computer will create new opportunities to train on technologies that most universities can only teach in theory,” Bruni-Bossio said.

Once assembled, the quantum computer will be available to researchers and students in the fall.