Articles tagged with "superconducting-qubits"
Taiwan builds 20-qubit quantum computer in domestic R&D push
Researchers at Taiwan’s Academia Sinica have developed a 20-qubit superconducting quantum computer entirely through domestic research and fabrication efforts, marking a significant advancement from their earlier 5-qubit system introduced in 2023. This new platform, now accessible to local researchers, demonstrates Taiwan’s capability to produce larger-scale, stable quantum chips suitable for complex quantum simulations and testing. The project leveraged semiconductor manufacturing expertise to overcome challenges in qubit uniformity, coupling precision, and interference, employing techniques like laser trimming and chip stacking to enhance performance and reduce crosstalk. A major breakthrough of the 20-qubit system is the substantial increase in qubit coherence time—from 15–30 microseconds in the previous model to 530 microseconds—allowing quantum states to remain stable for longer periods, which is critical for practical quantum computing. This improvement reflects tighter control over fabrication, packaging, and noise reduction, addressing the sensitivity of superconducting qubits to electromagnetic disturbances. Academia Sinica plans to further
quantum-computingsuperconducting-qubitsquantum-chip-fabricationmaterial-discoveryhigh-performance-computingsemiconductor-manufacturingquantum-simulationGoogle opens access to powerful Willow quantum chip for UK scientists
Google has partnered with the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) to provide UK researchers access to its most powerful quantum processor, the Willow chip. This initiative invites scientists to submit proposals for developing applications in fields such as material science, chemistry, medicine, and life sciences. The Willow chip, unveiled in December 2024, is notable for its advanced superconducting qubit technology and breakthrough error correction capabilities, enabling it to perform computations exponentially faster than classical supercomputers. For example, it completed a benchmark task in under five minutes that would take a top supercomputer an estimated 10 septillion years. The collaboration aims to accelerate real-world quantum applications by leveraging Willow’s unique ability to handle complex problems beyond classical computing reach. Selected UK researchers will work closely with Google Quantum AI and NQCC experts to design experiments using the processor. This partnership aligns with the UK government’s commitment to quantum technology, which includes a £670 million investment and an estimated £11 billion economic contribution by
quantum-computingquantum-processormaterials-scienceenergy-innovationsuperconducting-qubitserror-correctionUK-research-collaborationChinese team simulates quantum state that resists errors from start
A team led by Pan Jianwei at the University of Science and Technology of China has made a significant advance in quantum computing by creating a quantum block that resists errors from the outset. Using their programmable superconducting quantum processor, Zuchongzhi 2, they simulated higher-order topological phases—exotic states of matter whose quantum information is protected in small regions called “corner modes.” Unlike traditional error-correction methods that require many extra qubits, this approach leverages topology, a branch of mathematics focusing on global features, to produce quantum states inherently more robust against disturbances. The team specifically focused on non-equilibrium higher-order topological phases, which are dynamic and do not naturally occur in materials, making them difficult to observe or test. To achieve this, the researchers programmed a 6×6 grid of qubits on Zuchongzhi 2 to mimic a synthetic material exhibiting these topological behaviors. By applying controlled operations and tracking the qubits’ evolving dynamics rather than static properties,
quantum-computingsuperconducting-qubitstopological-materialsquantum-error-correctionprogrammable-quantum-processorquantum-simulationhigher-order-topological-phasesCat qubits stay stable for over an hour in quantum computing record
French quantum computing startup Alice & Bob has set a new record in qubit stability by demonstrating that their Galvanic Cat qubits can resist bit-flip errors for over an hour, a significant improvement from the previous record of 430 seconds (about seven minutes) achieved in 2024. Bit-flip errors are one of the main challenges in quantum computing, and extending the bit-flip lifetime to this extent marks a crucial step toward practical fault-tolerant quantum machines. The breakthrough was realized through a combination of software optimizations, experimental techniques, and advanced engineering on their latest qubit design, which also powers their 12-qubit Helium 2 chip. This advancement not only surpasses typical cosmic ray impact timescales, suggesting enhanced qubit robustness, but also enables more efficient error-correcting codes that could reduce the hardware requirements for large-scale quantum computers by up to 200 times. Alice & Bob reported bit-flip times between 33 and 60 minutes at a
materialsquantum-computingqubitscat-qubitsfault-tolerant-computingquantum-error-correctionsuperconducting-qubitsCaltech uses sound to store quantum data 30 times longer than qubits
Caltech researchers have developed a novel quantum memory technique that converts quantum electrical signals from superconducting qubits into acoustic vibrations using a chip-scale mechanical oscillator, akin to a microscopic tuning fork. This hybrid approach leverages phonons—quantized sound waves vibrating at gigahertz frequencies—to store quantum information. Because these mechanical vibrations lose energy more slowly and are less prone to interference than electrical signals, the system achieves quantum state lifetimes up to 30 times longer than conventional superconducting qubits. This advancement addresses a key limitation of superconducting qubits, which excel at processing quantum information but suffer from short coherence times that restrict data storage. The team fabricated a nanoscale mechanical oscillator integrated with a superconducting qubit on a chip, enabling the storage and retrieval of quantum states as mechanical vibrations at extremely low temperatures. The slower propagation of acoustic waves allows for compact device design and reduces energy loss by preventing radiation into free space. These properties suggest the potential for scalable quantum memory solutions by integrating many such oscillators
quantum-computingquantum-memorysuperconducting-qubitsacoustic-vibrationschip-scale-oscillatorquantum-data-storagescalable-quantum-technologyIn a first, transmon qubit achieves a coherence time of one millisecond
Researchers at Aalto University in Finland have achieved a breakthrough in quantum computing by extending the coherence time of a superconducting transmon qubit to over one millisecond, with a median coherence time of about 0.5 milliseconds. This marks a new world record, significantly surpassing the previous best echo coherence times of around 0.6 milliseconds. The team accomplished this by using ultra-clean superconducting films, precise electron-beam lithography, and meticulous fabrication of Josephson junctions, all performed in a highly controlled cleanroom environment. Cooling the chip to near absolute zero and employing specialized low-noise amplifiers further preserved the qubit’s fragile quantum state. This advancement is crucial because longer coherence times allow qubits to perform more quantum operations before errors occur, enhancing the reliability and practicality of quantum computers. While this milestone is promising for the development of quantum sensors, simulators, and computers, scaling the technology to many qubits on a single chip with similar coherence remains a significant challenge. To
materialsquantum-computingsuperconducting-qubitstransmon-qubitcoherence-timequantum-technologyquantum-sensorsIndia eyes global quantum computer push — and QpiAI is its chosen vehicle
QpiAI, an Indian startup specializing in integrating AI with quantum computing for enterprise applications, has secured $32 million in a Series A funding round co-led by the Indian government under its $750 million National Quantum Mission and Avataar Ventures. Valued at $162 million post-money, this investment underscores India’s strategic push to become a global quantum computing leader. The National Quantum Mission, launched in 2023, targets the development of intermediate-scale quantum computers (50–1,000 qubits) and related quantum technologies such as satellite-based quantum communications and quantum materials over the next eight years. QpiAI, one of eight startups selected for government grants, has developed India’s first full-stack quantum computer, QpiAI-Indus, featuring 25 superconducting qubits, and integrates AI to enhance quantum chip design and error correction. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Bengaluru with subsidiaries in the U.S. and Finland, QpiAI focuses on real-world quantum applications in sectors like
quantum-computingAI-integrationquantum-materialssuperconducting-qubitsquantum-hardwarematerial-discoveryquantum-device-fabricationFirst zero-temp symmetry break hits 80% fidelity in quantum test
An international team of researchers from China, Spain, Denmark, and Brazil has achieved a significant breakthrough by simulating spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) at absolute zero temperature using a superconducting quantum processor. This marks the first time SSB has been simulated at zero temperature with about 80% fidelity, representing a major milestone in condensed matter physics and demonstrating new quantum computing applications. SSB is a fundamental phenomenon in physics that explains the emergence of complex structures and conservation laws, but observing it at near absolute zero is challenging due to material immobility. Classical computers have struggled with such simulations, which are typically limited to temperatures above zero and require extensive processing time. The researchers leveraged quantum computing’s unique capabilities—entanglement and superposition—to overcome these limitations. Unlike classical computers that process computations sequentially, quantum processors handle multiple possibilities simultaneously, exponentially speeding up simulations. The experiment used a quantum circuit of seven superconducting qubits made from aluminum and niobium alloys, operating near one millikelvin
quantum-computingsuperconducting-qubitsquantum-simulationmaterials-sciencecondensed-matter-physicsquantum-processorslow-temperature-physics