On Monday (December 4) local time, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) posted on its official blog, demonstrating the hardware and software required for "Quantum Utility", including new quantum processor chips and quantum computing systems. Quantum computing is a rapidly emerging technology that uses the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems that are too complex for classical computers. But building a reliable quantum computer with better performance than traditional computers in the real world has always been a problem.
As researchers make them large enough, quantum computers can outperform classical computers in performance, while unreliability (data errors) becomes a major problem.
The press release stated that IBM demonstrated a new method: connecting chips to the inside of machines, and then connecting the machines together to form a modular system, so that the scale can be expanded without being restricted by physical conditions.
IBM says that superimposing this method with new error-correcting codes could lead to compelling quantum machines by 2033.
New quantum processor chips and quantum computing systems
In terms of hardware, IBM launched "Quantum System Two" (Quantum System Two), which will be equipped with three highest-performance quantum processors "Heron".
Heron&Quantum System No.2
According to reports, Heron has 133 fixed-frequency qubits, exceeding the 127-qubit "Eagle" processor. IBM claims that Heron's equipment improves performance by three to five times compared to Eagle and virtually eliminates crosstalk.
Quantum System Two will be equipped with three Heron processors and will be 22 feet wide and 12 feet high. IBM said, "As a modular architecture quantum computing platform, we will use it to achieve parallel circuit execution of quantum-centric supercomputing."
IBM hopes that this chip and machine will become the cornerstone of larger systems in 10 years. The press release states that "we have entered a new era of quantum computing," as the past few decades have been about the emergence and establishment of this new technology, and now it is about laying the foundation to make quantum computing a reality.
Research and commercialization in parallel
IBM Senior Vice President and Research Director Dario Gil told the media that between now and 2029, the progress of technology will be quite stable, and error correction technology will be able to fully play its role by then.
"It takes a while for us to move from scientific value to commercial value, but I think the distinction between research and commercialization is getting closer."
“As we continue to advance how quantum systems scale and deliver value through modular architecture, we will further improve the quality of our utility-scale quantum technology stack and get it into the hands of our users and partners who will push the boundaries of quantum technology’s more complex problems.”
"We are in an era when quantum computers are used as tools to explore new areas of science." When talking about the latest Heron chip, Gil said, "Many things must be combined to be practical, otherwise it will just be paper talk."