Google’s Willow Chip

Context: Google has unveiled its next-generation chip called ‘Willow’, that solved in under five minutes a computation so complex, it would have taken a supercomputer around 10 septillion years to complete.

About Willow Chip

• Willow Chip is Google’s next-generation quantum computing chip, representing a significant step toward building practical quantum computers.
• Fabrication and Design
  • Built at Google’s facility in Santa Barbara, California, USA.
• Superconducting Transmon Qubits: Willow operates using superconducting transmon qubits, which are tiny electrical circuits designed to exhibit quantum behavior.
  • These circuits function like artificial atoms and maintain quantum states critical for computation.
• Cooling for Stability: Qubits are cooled to temperatures just above absolute zero to reduce vibrations and external disturbances.
  • This extreme cooling minimises errors by maintaining the delicate quantum states necessary for accurate calculations.
• Error Reduction: Tackles quantum errors caused by qubits interacting with their environment.
  • Implements real-time quantum error correction, crucial for maintaining computational accuracy.
• Applications of Willow: Google envisions Willow contributing to advancements in: Drug discovery, Fusion energy research, Battery design for energy storage and sustainability.

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Ways in which Quantum Chips Differ from Regular Chips

• Regular Chips: Use ‘bits’ that represent either 0 or 1 to process information.
• Quantum Chips: Use ‘qubits’, which can represent 0, 1, or both simultaneously (superposition), enabling faster and more complex calculations.

Voronezh Radar System

Context: India is set to finalize a landmark USD 4 billion defence deal with Russia to acquire the advanced Voronezh series radar system.

About Voronezh Radar

• The radar is capable of detecting and tracking ballistic missiles and aircraft at distances of up to 8,000 km.
• It operates as part of the Missile Attack Early Warning System, providing comprehensive detection of missile threats and space activity.
• The system is strategically designed for optimized detection capabilities against diverse threat vectors.
• Technology Used: The radar employs phased array technology for rapid electronic steering of the beam.
  • Phased array technology arranges antennas to electronically steer the beam in multiple directions.
  • This method is more efficient and less mechanically complex than older radar systems.

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Significance

• The agreement is part of India’s air defence modernization efforts to address evolving security challenges.
• The deal aligns with the ‘Make in India’ initiative, with 60% of the radar components to be manufactured domestically.