IBM Announces Progress in Quantum Computing
June 18, 2023, 7:01 p.m.
IBM has announced significant progress in the field of quantum computing. For the first time, a system consisting of over 100 qubits has demonstrated the ability to deliver accurate results in complex calculations. The quantum computer named Eagle surpassed the capabilities of traditional supercomputers in solving a modeling problem.
Researchers conducted an experiment to compare the capabilities of a 127-qubit quantum computer and a supercomputer installed at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. Both devices were tasked with calculating the most probable behavior of a set of particles, such as spin-coupled atoms arranged in a lattice.
Modern quantum systems are inherently noisy and prone to errors, which can significantly impact performance. This is due to the fragile nature of qubits and the noise that arises during their operations. Researchers developed error correction methods to enhance the accuracy of calculations.
They discovered that equations could be solved precisely for a certain number of particles. As the complexity of the calculation increased, approximation methods were required, and the results from both machines matched.
As the computation task became more challenging, the supercomputer reached its limit and could no longer handle it. However, the quantum computer Eagle continued to produce results. Although the team had no means to verify the accuracy of the results, they aligned with the expected calculations.
While this was the first instance of a quantum computer with over 100 qubits demonstrating accurate performance, researchers state that quantum superiority has not yet been achieved. IBM expects the technology to continue evolving and offering more capabilities in the coming years.