Rigetti Computing headquarters in Berkeley, CA.

Today, I’m extremely excited to announce the public beta availability of Forest 1.0, the world’s first full-stack programming and execution environment for quantum/classical computing. You can use Forest to develop algorithms for quantum/classical hybrid computing, and you can use it to learn how quantum computers and algorithms really work. You can simulate those algorithms on up to 30 qubits using our Quantum Virtual Machine, or QVM™, running in the cloud. And you can interact with real quantum chips using simple function calls that execute on an active system.

Rigetti Computing is a full-stack quantum computing company, and Forest is a full-stack product. So I’d like to highlight some of the key technical milestones that underpin Forest at both the hardware and software level.

Fab-1

We’ve developed a highly coherent and scalable quantum integrated circuit architecture. Two key ingredients are a new fab process for superconducting through-silicon vias, and a low-temperature bonding process for 3D integration.

To further accelerate our progress in design and manufacturing capabilities, about a year ago we decided to make a strategic investment to build the world’s first commercial quantum integrated circuit fab, called Fab-1. Today, we are officially marking the opening of this new facility (see photo below).

Fab-1 is based on the latest semiconductor processing tools and technology, but, unlike traditional fabs, operates in rapid-iteration mode. Today, we can produce an entirely new design for a 3D integrated quantum circuit in about 2 weeks. Because of the exponential value of iteration cycles in the development of any complex technology, I expect Fab-1 to be a key driver and strategic advantage in our march towards ever greater processing power (more qubits, faster gate times) and performance (longer coherence times, lower error rates, greater connectivity) from quantum chips over the coming years.

Nagesh Vodrahalli has joined the company in the role of VP of Process Technology, leading Fab-1 and our overall fab strategy. Nagesh brings decades of executive and technology leadership in advanced semiconductor manufacturing and 3D integration, including time at Intel, HP, and Altera.