Microsoft and Quantinuum have announced a breakthrough in quantum error correction. Using Quantinuum’s ion trap and Microsoft’s new qubit virtualization system, a team of specialists conducted more than 14 thousand experiments without a single error.
This approach made it possible to check logical qubits and correct errors without damaging the qubit itself, bringing modern quantum computing from the era of noisy intermediate-scale quantum computers (NISQ) to a new level.
A new era of sustainable quantum computing
By combining several scientific approaches, the experts could conduct thousands of experiments with virtually no errors. They used a Quantinuum ion-trapped processor with H2 traps and combined 30 physical qubits into four logical ones. The logical qubits were further analyzed. The researchers focused on identifying and correcting errors.
A qubit is a fundamental unit of calculation in quantum systems, similar to a bit in a classical computer, but each qubit can be in several states simultaneously. Therefore, for correct calculations, it is necessary to learn how to correct errors in a logical qubit without damaging its network structure.
Scientists emphasize that to go beyond NISQ, it is necessary to create a gap between physical and logical qubits, learn how to correct circuit errors, and create a connection between at least two logical qubits. But most importantly, you need to be able to diagnose the mistakes and fix them without destroying the logical qubit in the process.
If the results of Microsoft’s and Quantinuum’s research continue to be confirmed, it will be safe to say that humanity has entered a new era of sustainable quantum computing.