$4M Grant Develops Yale’s Erasure Qubit Error Correction

A 4 million grant from the National Science Foundation will support the next phase of Yale’s ERASE project, an effort to build a large-scale, error-correcting quantum computer. Building on an initial 1 million award received last year, the funding will support development of a blueprint for both the hardware and software underpinning ERASE’s approach, which utilizes quantum bits to identify and correct errors. “The hardware architecture we are developing with D-Wave Quantum is different from existing architectures because the dual-resonator, or erasure, qubits can indicate when the dominant error occurs,” explains Steven Girvin, the project’s principal investigator and Sterling Professor of Physics at Yale. The project also leverages the National Quantum Virtual Laboratory, an online community of researchers contributing expertise across multiple disciplines, and aims to expand the quantum tech workforce in Connecticut with industry partner D-Wave Quantum.

ERASE Project Advances Error Correction with “Erasure Flag” Qubits

Standing for Erasure Qubits and Dynamic Circuits for Quantum Advantage, the project focuses on practical error correction, a critical hurdle in realizing the potential of quantum computation. Central to this strategy are qubits designed to actively identify errors as they occur, simplifying the correction process; this contrasts with many current approaches that attempt to mitigate errors after they’ve accumulated. Girvin emphasizes the need for innovation across the entire system, stating that a holistic approach is essential. Michael Hatridge, a co-principal investigator at Yale Engineering, notes that this phase will focus on bridging the gap between physical hardware and algorithmic research, with the goal of creating a comprehensive plan for future hardware construction; D-Wave Quantum will significantly expand its New Haven workforce as part of this effort, solidifying the region’s role in quantum technology advancement.

NSF Grant Supports ERASE’s Hardware & Workforce Development

This new funding will facilitate the creation of a preliminary hardware and software blueprint tailored to ERASE’s methodology, while simultaneously expanding quantum workforce development initiatives in Connecticut. The two-year second phase, according to co-PI Michael Hatridge, an associate professor of applied physics at Yale Engineering, will focus on expanding research, education, and workforce training, and establishing a clear plan for hardware construction in a subsequent phase. D-Wave Quantum, having acquired Yale start-up Quantum Circuits, Inc. in January, will significantly expand its New Haven-based research and development component, bolstering the local quantum ecosystem.