Quantum Computing Breakthrough: Entangling 12 Logical Qubits with Microsoft and Quantinuum
Microsoft and Quantinuum have achieved a groundbreaking quantum computing milestone by entangling 12 logical qubits with the highest fidelity ever recorded. This achievement marks a significant step forward in quantum error correction, with error rates 800 times better than physical qubits, making complex real-world applications like chemical simulations more feasible.
Microsoft has announced that it will offer early access to its fault-tolerant quantum hardware through Azure Quantum, combining quantum computing with AI and classical computing to solve challenging problems across various industries.
Major Breakthrough: Error Reduction and Logical Qubit Reliability
The collaboration between Microsoft and Quantinuum has resulted in entangling 12 logical qubits with unprecedented fidelity, a significant advancement in quantum computing. This was made possible through improvements in Microsoft’s qubit virtualization system.
This achievement builds on Microsoft’s previous milestone of demonstrating the most reliable logical qubits with error rates 800 times better than physical qubits in less than six months. The advancement addresses the challenge of physical qubit unreliability by utilizing logical qubits that correct errors and maintain coherence.
Real-World Applications: Chemistry and Beyond
Microsoft’s breakthrough in quantum computing has promising implications for complex chemical simulations. The company demonstrated the first end-to-end chemistry simulation using its reliable logical qubits, cloud-based HPC, and AI. This opens the door to solving problems that are currently impossible for classical computers due to their computational complexity.
By integrating quantum computing with AI and classical computing, Microsoft aims to accelerate scientific discoveries in fields like chemistry, physics, and life sciences, offering solutions for sustainable energy and life-saving therapeutics.
Experimental Details: Qubit Virtualization and Error Correction
The success of entangling 12 logical qubits relied on Microsoft’s qubit virtualization system, integrated with Quantinuum’s hardware. The fault-tolerance scheme, known as the “tesseract” code, protected logical qubits by arranging physical qubits into a 4D hypercube structure, reducing error rates efficiently.
The team demonstrated significant error reduction during their experiments, allowing for more complex computations and deeper quantum circuits. The ability to detect and correct errors on-the-fly is a critical feature of making quantum systems more reliable.
Future Prospects: Commercial Quantum Applications
Microsoft’s next steps involve integrating fault-tolerant qubits into larger quantum systems and providing early access to reliable quantum hardware through Azure Quantum. The company aims to deliver practical quantum solutions across industries, from drug discovery to financial modeling.
Read more about the logical qubit work in Microsoft’s research paper on ArXiv and stay updated on the company’s blog for further technical insights. The future of quantum computing looks promising with Microsoft’s recent breakthroughs in logical qubit entanglement.