Quantum computing amplified the speed at which the data is interpreted, allowing to solve crucial problems and improve computer cryptography. This paradigm has a strategic value in terms National and National Security. For these reasons, China and the United States compete to position themselves as global referents.
Quantum processing goes beyond decipher the codes that guard the current systems: it has the potential to boost innovation and transform sectors such as energy, finance and drug production.
China has already advanced in key areas such as quantum communications and established numerous advanced research centers. If the US and the appendix of their startups do not multiply their efforts, they could lose diplomatic influence, military leadership and opportunities for economic progress.
The recent announcement of Zuchongzhi-3 opened a new chapter in the call Cold war 2.0. In 2019 Google pioneered to claim the “quantum supremacy“With his 53 -cubits Sycamore, today displaced by Willow. Although Xiaohong of 504 cubits seemed unbeatable, Microsoft surprised the world with its rupturist Chip Majorana 1.
A race with many obstacles
The diversity of approaches – from the Chinese emphasis on the calculation speed, to Google’s in the correction of errors and the topological architecture of Microsoft – reflects different strategies to overcome the pending challenges.
“There are two great challenges in the quantum career. One is the mass redundancy, an approach used by IBM and Google, which requires thousands of physical cubits to form a logical and stable one. Google, with Willow, showed that as surface codes grow, global errors decrease: more cubits, less errors. This is a significant milestone,” Facundo Díaz, president and Founder of the firm /Q99.
As quantum computers are “noisy”, without error correction technology, one of each one thousand ubits will fail. In contrast, in the machines governed by zeros and some, only one of each billion billion Bits presents failures.
“The second issue- says Díaz thread- is the naturally stable cubits design. A disruptive concept are Microsoft topological cubits, using majorana particles. Although it was not yet demonstrated conclusively, if it is achieved, it could change the quantum computing paradigm. In addition, we know that China is very advanced in the use of this type of atomic particles, although the details are not public ”.
In this sense, it is not only crucial to increase the number, but also to improve the quality of the cubits to ensure that they can maintain their quantum properties without degrading.
“We are working with subatomic particles that are susceptible to any disturbance, vibration, magnetic capon or temperature. The challenge is that they can climb and that the cubits do not destroy each other,” says the CEO of the Argentine startup specialized in quantum computing.
Another particularities of quantum processing units (QPU) is its ability to operate in extreme conditions, at temperatures close to absolute zero (-273.15 ° C or 0 ° K). This demand is one of the difficulties for put them ready.
Although these advances demonstrate notable technical achievements, questions still persist on when they will go from laboratory demonstrations to practical applications.
“Today the quantum career resembles a competition between laboratories. All develop machines with potential, but few of these ecosystems are functional. They focus on the cubits and the best technology, but there are no practical applications. In fact, all the advances presented are focused on the hardware,” says Facundo Díaz.
Superconductor cubits used by Zuchongzhi-3, reached a great speed, but they are Errors prone and require extremely low temperatures to work. Microsoft topological cubits offer greater stability, but they are still in the early development phases.
The panorama is constantly evolving, and it is likely that different types of quantum systems will be suitable for increasingly specific solutions.
Four quantum sand gladiators
The Zuchongzhi-3 was in charge of the prestigious Pan Jianwei physicist at China Science and Technology (USTC). Your QPU is up to 1,000 billion times faster than the best supercomputers on the planet. The prototype has 105 superconductor cubits, 22 ubits more than the Google Willow.
An investigation published in Physical Review Letters, points out that Zuchongzhi-3 achieves an improvement of one million times Regarding the experiment of 67 Google Cubits. This represents an important leap and consolidated the Asian position in the current race. It is not only the number of cubits, but about its quality, stability and connectivity.
In the article published by Chinese researchers, they describe Zuchongzhi-3 as a device capable of saving the computational gap between quantum and classics.
“The great bet is conceptual: classical computing is based on certainties, while quantum is probabilistic. Instead of specific results, this latest delivery of something works or improves. The challenge is to combine the best of both worlds: the precision of the classic with the quantum possibilities. It is a paradigm shift, but we must try to join them,” Diaz summarizes.
Although Willow made important advances in the correction of quantum errors, Zuchongzhi-3 is implementing similar techniques and points to more sophisticated correction codes. At the same time, the Chinese system uses materials such as tantalium and aluminum, which improves precision and efficiency compared to the Google used.
The other Asian reference is committed to the QPU Xiaohong of 504 Superconductor Cubits, which will be the nerve center of the Tianyan-504 supercomputer. It is a project of the China Telecom quantum group (CTQG), the Center for Excellence in Quantum and Physical Information of China and Quantumctek, a firm specialized in quantum technology.
The Tianyan-504 facilitates researchers and companies around the world simulations and calculations complexes through the cloud. This advance allows scientists to model natural phenomena with unprecedented precision, accelerating discoveries in fields such as physics, chemistry and biology.
In addition, companies can take advantage of this technology to optimize industrial processes, improve energy efficiency and develop innovative products. Accessibility through the cloud democratizes the use of quantum computing, allowing even small startups to compete in the global market with advanced solutions.
The big surprise came with Microsoft- which was not taken into account in this discussion- with its innovative Majorana chip. It is based on topological superconductivity, a new state of matter and the consolidation of zero Majorana modes, which are theoretical particles.
Instead of correcting quantum errors with traditional schemes, Microsoft created errors resistant cubits by topological protection in hardware. With only 8 cubits so far, bet on the quality of the quantity.
However, Nature’s original article does not detail the techniques used to certify the existence of topological cubits. In other words, Microsoft claims to have achieved it, but omits crucial details about the process.