Google and Quantinuum bring a new, promising particle into the quantum computer road map. Two teams of researchers have used topology, a centuries-old field of mathematics, and a new kind of “quasiparticle” to come up with an error-correction technique for quantum computers that could leave others developed to date in the bin. By Margo Anderson.
Error-correction systems are essential to quantum computers, because the unprotected quantum bit (qubit) is such a perpetually delicate thing—often a single particle or quantum state that is forever at the mercy of thermal or random noise in the system. And because qubits are typically quantum mechanically interconnected with one another—to use the jargon, qubits are typically entangled—knocking just one or two out of commission can affect the whole system.
Further in the article:
- New states of matter for solving old problems
- What does a topological quantum computer look like?
The qubits are essentially inductor-capacitor oscillators, says Google Quantum AI team member Trond Andersen of the qubits in the Google system. “But they are made with Josephson junctions. And the beauty of them is when we cool them down, we can see the quantized levels of this oscillator. And those quantized levels are what we use as our zero and one.” Super interesting read!
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