Microsoft, in collaboration with Atom Computing, has achieved a significant breakthrough in quantum computing with the introduction of a commercial quantum computer. This milestone was revealed during the Ignite 2024 conference, held this week in Chicago.
A partnership resulted in the successful creation and connection of 24 logical qubits, marking a new record for linked qubits. Logical qubits, derived from multiple physical qubits, were possible thanks to Microsoft's advanced qubit virtualization technologyapplied to neutral atom systems developed by Atom Computing.
Logical qubits are essential to address a fundamental challenge in quantum computing: the instability of physical qubits. According to Microsoft, these qubits not only detect errors but also compensate for the loss of quantum information caused by the disappearance of physical qubits.
Neutral atoms, used as qubits, are stabilized using laser systems. However, some atoms inevitably escape, leading to the loss of information. To resolve this issue, teams focused on identifying and correcting these losses. Their efforts yielded impressive results:
- Error rates for logical qubits have been reduced to 10.2%, a 4.1x improvement over the base physical error rate of 42%.
- When both errors and losses were detected and corrected, the error rate dropped to 26.6%, 1.6 times better than the base rate.
This was the first successful demonstration of loss correction in a commercial neutral atom quantum system.
Microsoft wants to create the most powerful quantum computer in the world
The next quantum computer from Microsoft and Atom Computing will integrate hardware based on neutral atoms with a qubit virtualization system, seamlessly linked to Microsoft's Azure Elements. This configuration promises researchers and engineers unparalleled capabilities.
Jason Zander, executive vice president of Microsoft, highlighted that the company's ambition is to create the most powerful quantum computer in the world. Customers can now make reservations for the commercial system, although deliveries will begin at the end of 2025. The price details were not revealedbut are expected to reflect the advanced nature of the technology.
Quantum computing has long captured the interest of major technology players. IBM, Google and Amazon are among the companies making substantial investments in this space. Google launched its quantum AI campus in 2021, while Amazon is collaborating with Caltech to develop its own quantum systems.
The partnership between Microsoft and Atom Computing, formalized in September 2024, has already produced significant progress. Its ability to intertwine 24 logical qubits is an important step towards the ultimate goal of creating fault-tolerant quantum computers.
Why is this important?
Fault tolerance is seen as a cornerstone for tackling complex computational challenges far beyond the reach of classical computers. Atom Computing highlights This requires a synergy of advanced technologies and quantum error correction algorithms to provide reliable computing resources in a sustainable way.
These systems could accelerate progress in a range of disciplines, including pharmaceutical research, energy solutions, secure communications and materials science.
Additionally, Microsoft's quantum system promises to create new datasets to train AI models, further intertwining quantum computing with advances in artificial intelligence.
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Source: pplware.sapo.pt
