The field of quantum computing now presents groundbreaking advancements every month, each more impressive than the last. Chinese researchers are joining the race by revealing a major breakthrough. Their new quantum processor, named Zuchongzhi 3.0, surpasses the performance of today's most powerful supercomputers.
This processor, equipped with 105 superconducting qubits, was developed by the University of Science and Technology of China. It successfully completed a computational task in a few hundred seconds, a feat that would take billions of years for classical supercomputers.
The latest Zuchongzhi model features 105 transmon qubits, devices made from metals like tantalum, niobium, and aluminum, reducing sensitivity to noise.
Credit: D. Gao et al.
The performance of Zuchongzhi 3.0 was measured using a quantum computing benchmark, Random Circuit Sampling (RCS). This test, involving a 83-qubit quantum circuit with 32 layers, was executed a million times faster than Google's previous processor, Sycamore.
The researchers also improved the fidelity of quantum gates and error correction, crucial aspects for the development of practical quantum computers. Zuchongzhi 3.0 achieved a reliability of 99.90% for single-qubit gates and 99.62% for two-qubit gates.
These advancements were made possible through technical improvements, particularly in fabrication methods and qubit design. The use of tantalum and aluminum for qubit components minimized errors and increased computational precision.
Despite these achievements, the researchers acknowledge that the benchmarks used favor quantum methods. They also emphasize that continuous improvements in classical algorithms could narrow the performance gap between quantum and classical computers.
This breakthrough nonetheless marks a significant step toward the practical use of quantum computers to solve currently unsolvable real-world problems. Researchers envision a future where quantum processors will play a key role in various scientific and technological fields.
What is a superconducting qubit?
A superconducting qubit is a type of qubit used in quantum computers, made from superconducting materials like tantalum, niobium, and aluminum. These materials allow qubits to operate at extremely low temperatures, reducing sensitivity to noise and increasing quantum coherence.
Quantum coherence is crucial for maintaining the superposition state of qubits, enabling parallel computations. Superconducting qubits are therefore essential for the development of practical and high-performance quantum computers.
Recent advancements in the fabrication and design of superconducting qubits, such as those achieved in the Zuchongzhi 3.0 project, have significantly improved the fidelity of quantum gates and error correction, key aspects for performing complex quantum computations.
How does the Random Circuit Sampling benchmark work?
Random Circuit Sampling (RCS) is a benchmark used to evaluate the performance of quantum computers. It involves executing a random quantum circuit and measuring the distribution of results, which is then compared to the theoretically expected distribution.
This benchmark is particularly useful for demonstrating quantum supremacy, i.e., the ability of a quantum computer to outperform classical supercomputers in certain tasks. RCS is designed to be difficult to simulate with classical computers, making it an ideal test for assessing progress in quantum computing.
The results achieved by Zuchongzhi 3.0 on this benchmark show that quantum computers are capable of performing specific tasks in record time, paving the way for new applications in various scientific and technological fields.