So far, quantum computers have been held back by their extreme sensitivity to errors and external disturbances.
So far, quantum computers have been held back by their extreme sensitivity to errors and external disturbances. The longer a quantum operation takes, the greater the risk that computational errors will occur. Now, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, in Sweden, have developed a new method that allows a wide range of advanced quantum operations to be carried out more than a thousand times faster. The breakthrough addresses a well-known bottleneck in the field and paves the way for fault-tolerant quantum computing.
Quantum computers are expected to drive breakthroughs in fields ranging from drug discovery and energy systems to cryptography, artificial intelligence and logistics. Yet before this potential can be realised, quantum computers must become far more reliable than they are today.
One of the biggest challenges is the computational errors that arise when quantum computers process information. These errors can be triggered by even the slightest environmental disturbances, such as electrical noise, cosmic radiation or overheating. Conventional computers are also susceptible to such errors, but well-established error-correction techniques allow them to be detected and fixed quickly. For quantum computers, however, the challenge is far greater.
Read More at Chalmers University of Technology
Image: The new method has the potential to accelerate quantum computations by a factor of a thousand, bringing fault-tolerant quantum computers a significant step closer. (Photo: Chalmers University of Technology | Malin Arnesson and Anna-Lena Lundquist)
