IonQ launches Superion 256, a quantum computer built for volume production

Quantum computer manufacturer IonQ has unveiled Superion 256, a 256-qubit quantum computer designed for mass production. The system utilizes control chips created through standard semiconductor manufacturing processes, enabling the firm to ramp up production. Pre-orders for the first unit were taken in the first quarter of the year, with deliveries scheduled for 2027.

Superion 256 marks IonQ's sixth generation quantum computer, with all future systems intended to be built on the same platform. IonQ's first customer deliveries are anticipated in 2027, with full production machines to operate on the company's cloud service. The quantum processing units are fabricated at SkyWater Technology Inc., a foundry IonQ acquired in January via a $1.8 billion deal.

The incorporation of SkyWater technology reduced the design cycle from nine months to two, while increasing wafer lot production by 12 times over six months compared to a previous foundry partner. IonQ's electronic qubit control technology, acquired through its $1.075 billion acquisition of Oxford Ionics Ltd., enables the control of qubits directly on the chip, as opposed to using laser arrays.

The system occupies a standard server rack, with power consumption below that of a rack of graphics processing units. IonQ's Chairman and CEO, Niccolo de Masi, highlighted that Superion 256 is the first quantum computer platform built to be produced by the hundreds rather than individually. The firm is also developing Superion 10K, which will integrate CMOS on the chip and implement the fault-tolerant architecture known as Walking Cat.

Chris Ballance, IonQ's president of quantum computing, considers Superion as the pivotal inflection point in the quantum computing industry, with full fault tolerance expected by 2027, and a marketable commercial version anticipated by 2028. The reduced cost per qubit, estimated to be over 300 times lower than current systems, is attributed to the elimination of laser control.

In a resource estimation, IonQ's researchers determined that running Shor's algorithm against secp256k1, the elliptic curve that powers Bitcoin, would require 19,397 physical qubits and 25.7 days, positioning the machine in line with the hardware roadmap expected by 2028. QuSecure Inc., a post-quantum cryptography firm, commented on the estimation, emphasizing the real target to be elliptic-curve cryptography due to its prevalence in public-key math across the internet.