Chapter 218 Showdown, I won’t pretend anymore
After the meeting began, Yue Jiafeng first talked about the current research status of quantum computers in the world today, as well as the significance and necessity of researching quantum computers.
Immediately afterwards, Yue Jiafeng displayed Ning Chen’s design plan on the big screen.
After seeing this plan, all the experts present could not help but widen their eyes.
Because this plan is not a simple conceptual plan, but a very detailed and mature plan.
After enlarging the design drawing, even the size of each part has been set.
Although these dimensions are within a range, such a detailed plan will undoubtedly save a lot of trouble in subsequent work.
Like Ning Chen hoped, Yue Jiafeng did not directly say that this was the design of Ning Chen alone, but said that it was a plan designed by his own team.
After Yue Jiafeng explained the design concept of the entire quantum computer, everyone began to discuss some issues in the entire design plan.
This time, Yue Jiafeng was the one to answer the questions. The questions raised by many experts were very similar to the questions Yue Jiafeng raised to Ning Chen at that time.
Yue Jiafeng also answered everyone's questions by referring to Ning Chen's answer at that time.
On the basis of Ning Chen’s theory, Yue Jiafeng also added some of his own understanding, which allowed everyone to better understand the various principles in the entire quantum computer design.
Seeing that there were no other questions to ask, Yue Jiafeng said:
“Then let’s allocate the project tasks.”
Since the entire project involves There are many branches of research work, including research on quantum transistors, quantum memories, quantum effectors, quantum algorithms, quantum coding, etc.
It is impossible to complete such a large amount of work just by relying on the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Therefore, in future research, various universities and scientific research institutions will need to go back and complete their respective branch projects.
After everyone has completed their respective tasks, they will gather again at the Chinese Academy of Sciences to conduct the next stage of research.
The branch project that Tao Wei, Ning Chen and others are responsible for is research on superconducting Josephson junctions.
The so-called Josephson junction is a structure in which a thin insulating layer is sandwiched between two superconductors.
This insulating layer acts as a potential barrier, allowing Cooper pairs to tunnel through the barrier, forming a superconducting current, exhibiting the Josephson effect.
A superconducting circuit composed of a Josephson junction can encode the two lowest energy levels into 0 state and 1 state respectively, thereby constructing a stable superconducting qubit.
The entire principle of the Josephson knot is not difficult to understand, but since this is the first time for everyone to conduct this kind of research, there is no experience to follow. In the future research process, you are likely to face many problems. A severe test.
After the meeting, Tao Wei didn't bother to rest and immediately called his team members together to discuss the progress of the project.
At this time, Tao Wei also seemed a little worried, because Tao Wei did not have any confidence in the progress of this project.
Although superconducting Josephson junction belongs to the research field of superconducting materials, the size of a superconducting Josephson junction is only 100nm to 200nm, which requires very precise processing technology.
In addition, Tao Wei didn't even know that the entire quantum computer design was by Ning Chen. He thought that these design plans were designed by the team led by Yue Jiafeng, so he did not pin all his hopes on Ning Chen. .
After summoning everyone to his office, Tao Wei said:
"Everyone already knows the content of the meeting just now. The task we are responsible for this time is very important and involves The progress of our work in the research and preparation of superconducting Josephson junctions in superconducting quantum chips will directly affect the research progress of the entire quantum computer..."
Listening to Tao Wei's story, everyone felt the same. There was a lot of pressure.
Although in the meeting just now, Yue Jiafeng has given a complete design plan, even including the size of each superconducting Josephson junction, which has been limited to a very fine range.
But this does not mean that everyone's work will be very easy. If this were the case, there would be no need to find so many experts to participate in the research of the project, and they would just go directly to the foundry to process the accessories.
“Okay, everyone, let’s talk about your thoughts.”
After Tao Wei finished speaking, no one spoke, because everyone had just learned about the various aspects of this project. This information was not fully prepared.
Seeing that everyone was silent, Ning Chen decided not to pretend at all.
After thinking about it, Ning Chen said:
"Academician Tao, fellow experts, Academician Yue has talked to me about some things about this quantum computer before. Can you let me talk about my personal thoughts first?"
Ning Chen's words are undoubtedly like those in the desert. Like an oasis, people feel hope.
"Well, Teacher Ning, please feel free to speak out if you have any ideas. We are all in the exploratory stage in this field." "Okay, let me first analyze superconductivity from the perspective of basic principles. Josephson. "
Because this research is not just about superconductivity, but also involves a lot of knowledge in the field of quantum physics, Ning Chen felt that it was necessary to understand the basics first. Let’s explain the theory well.
In the opening meeting just now, the entire quantum computer involves too many technologies. Although Yue Jiafeng mentioned it in every place, he could not explain it in too detail.
After receiving Tao Wei's permission, Ning Chen began to explain.
Like ordinary computers, quantum computers also need to use chips to complete various calculations. However, there are still many differences from traditional computers in the principles of chip manufacturing.
After Ning Chen’s explanation, everyone had a more thorough understanding of the entire principle and were no longer as at a loss as they were at the beginning.
“We can continue to refine our branch research topics into several small topics. These include the selection of superconducting metal layers, the processing of patterning of superconducting metal layers, the selection of insulating layers and Covering, setting of the substrate, obtaining the Josephson junction precursor, covering the second insulating layer and the second superconducting layer, etc..."
Ning Chen's explanation made everyone's thinking much clearer, and they were no longer silent like just now.
At this time, Tao Wei was very lucky to have Ning Chen join this research team, otherwise, it would be difficult for the entire research to proceed smoothly.
“In fact, the processing accuracy of 100nm to 200nm seems difficult to achieve, but for photolithography machines, such accuracy is not difficult to achieve. Even with the accuracy of our domestic photolithography machines, we can process these There is no problem with the Josephson junction..."
The accuracy of domestic photolithography machines has now reached the 100nm level. Although such accuracy cannot process the highest-precision computer and mobile phone chips, it is not suitable for the third generation. One generation of quantum chips is already enough.
After listening to Ning Chen’s words, everyone seemed confident. Even Tao Wei was eager to start research on the project on the spot.
But after all, there was still a lot of work to prepare, so Tao Wei decided to wait until the next day to officially start research on the project.
Early the next morning, Tao Wei, Ning Chen and others came to the laboratory together.
Before starting the experiment, Tao Wei said:
“This project is of great significance. It is not just an experiment by our group, but researchers across the country are working together on it. We don’t expect to be able to complete our tasks as soon as possible, but at least we must not delay the project.”
Tao Wei’s words raised everyone’s spirits and took this matter with the most serious attitude. times of research.
After sensing everyone's seriousness, Tao Wei continued:
"Because Teacher Ning is more familiar with this project, and the superconducting material used this time was also developed by Teacher Ning, what follows? The experiment is led by Teacher Ning. Although Teacher Ning is not old, there is no doubt about Teacher Ning’s professional ability. We also ask everyone to actively cooperate with Teacher Ning’s various experimental arrangements.”
Tao Weiran. I hope that in this research, Ning Chen can set more of an example.
However, Tao Wei was a little worried because Ning Chen was much younger than others, which would affect others' obedience to Ning Chen, so he gave special instructions to everyone.
“Don’t worry, Academician Tao, we will actively respond to Teacher Ning’s request.”
"That's right, age doesn't matter. Teacher Ning's professional title is already equivalent to that of a professor."
Many experts here have done experiments with Ning Chen before and know that Ning Chen is very powerful in scientific research. With his strength, he would not really feel dissatisfied with Ning Chen just because he had higher qualifications.
Seeing what everyone said, Ning Chen stopped evading anything and began to explain today's experimental arrangements to everyone.
“Before we can make a superconducting Josephson junction, we need to make a substrate and a superconducting film. The experimental method here is basically the same as our previous operation of preparing a superconducting film..."
The reason why they are "basically" the same is because Ning Chen made some subtle adjustments in order to make the substrate and superconducting film more suitable for the structure of the Josephson junction.
After Ning Chen finished explaining the key points to pay attention to during the experiment, everyone started the experiment together.
This is the first time that Ning Chen has nominally led a project like this. You must know that the members of the entire team include many professors and even academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Even so, Ning Chen can still maintain a very decent attitude and grasp his own sense of proportion well.
Ning Chen would not appear overly humble in front of these academicians and professors, nor would he be arrogant in any way, which made everyone feel very comfortable getting along with Ning Chen.
As the experiment progressed, everyone gradually understood why Tao Wei had to ask Ning Chen to lead this experiment.
(End of this chapter)