Long-Range Qubit Connectors to Cut Swap Gates on Quantum Chips

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Solution Overview

Problem

Superconducting quantum chips face limitations in qubit connectivity, requiring multiple swap gates for two-qubit operations, which increases operation overhead and coherence time requirements.

Innovation Solution

Implementing long-range connectors on the qubit chip or using an interposer chip to directly connect non-nearest neighbor qubits, reducing the need for swap gates and operation overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If nearest neighbor connectivity is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to multiple swap gates required for long-range operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetwo-qubit operation speedVSAvoidconnector architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The quantum chip is divided into multiple zones or layers with different connectivity characteristics. Short-range nearest-neighbor connections are maintained within local regions, while long-range connectors provide direct pathways between distant qubit groups, segmenting the connectivity problem into local and global components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Long-range connector structures act as intermediaries that directly bridge distant qubits without requiring intermediate swap operations. These connectors serve as mediator pathways that reduce the number of computational steps needed for long-range two-qubit operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If multiple swap gates are used for long-range qubit operations, then connectivity flexibility is maintained, but loss of time increases due to extended coherence requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoherence timeVSAvoidqubit connectivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Long-range connector structures are pre-established during chip fabrication, creating direct quantum pathways between distant qubits before computation begins. This preliminary infrastructure eliminates the need for dynamic swap gate sequences during operation, reducing time loss and preserving coherence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If long-range connectors are added, then productivity improves by reducing swap gates, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetwo-qubit operation speedVSAvoidconnector architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the quantum chip have different connectivity qualities: local regions maintain simple nearest-neighbor coupling for short-range operations, while specific long-range connector locations provide enhanced direct connectivity for distant qubit pairs, optimizing the trade-off between complexity and performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12550761B2Highway jumper to enable long range connectivity for superconducting quantum computer chip

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a quantum processor includes a qubit chip. The qubit chip includes a substrate, and a plurality of qubits formed on a first surface of the substrate. The plurality of qubits are arranged in a pattern, wherein nearest-neighbor qubits in the pattern are connected. The quantum processor also includes a long-range connector configured to connect a first qubit of the plurality of qubits to a second qubit of the plurality of qubits, wherein the first and second qubits are separated by at least a third qubit in the pattern.