A recent experiment by IBM scientists has provided evidence that quantum computers could surpass classical computers in practical applications within the next two years. Published in the journal Nature, the study utilized IBM’s 127-qubit quantum computer, Eagle, to simulate the magnetic properties of a real material faster than classical computers. The achievement was made possible by employing a specialized error-mitigating technique that compensated for the inherent noise in quantum computers, which has been a significant challenge in realizing their full potential.

While classical computers rely on binary bits with values of 0 or 1, quantum computers utilize quantum bits or qubits that can exist in multiple states simultaneously due to quantum phenomena like superposition and entanglement. This inherent advantage of qubits enables quantum computers to perform calculations much faster and in parallel. However, the fragility of qubit states, susceptible to disruption from external factors, has limited the effectiveness of quantum computers due to the prevalence of errors and noise.

In this experiment, the researchers accurately measured the noise produced by each qubit in the Eagle quantum computer, allowing them to predict and compensate for the noise using advanced modeling techniques. The results demonstrated the ability of quantum computing to provide correct results in the regime of strong entanglement, where classical approximations fail. This experiment represents a significant step towards practical quantum applications in the pre-fault-tolerant era, highlighting the potential for quantum computers to outperform classical ones in solving complex real-world problems.

References

• Castelvecchi, D. (2023). IBM quantum computer passes calculation milestone. Nature, 618(7966), 656–657. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-01965-3
• Ghose, T. (2023, June 19). Quantum computers could overtake classical ones within 2 years, IBM ‘benchmark’ experiment shows. Space.Com; Space.com. https://www.space.com/quantum-computers-could-overtake-classical-ones-within-2-years-ibm-benchmark-experiment-shows
• Kim, Y., Eddins, A., Anand, S., Wei, K. X., Van Den Berg, E., Rosenblatt, S., Nayfeh, H., Wu, Y., Zaletel, M., Temme, K., & Kandala, A. (2023). Evidence for the utility of quantum computing before fault tolerance. Nature, 618(7965), 500–505. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06096-3