This Chinese breakthrough could make quantum computing more reliable
What's the story
A team of Chinese scientists has developed a revolutionary "quantum Lego block," which remains intact even under duress. The breakthrough was achieved using Zuchongzhi 2, a programmable quantum processor. The researchers simulated an exotic new state of matter with their work, according to a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Science.
Quantum stability
New state of matter and its significance
The new state of matter simulated by the team is one where quantum effects are confined to the corners of a material. These corner states are safeguarded by deep topological laws, providing a quantum armor against errors and noise. This is the first experimental realization of what scientists term non-equilibrium higher-order topological phases, an innovative method to store quantum information that doesn't easily break down.
Advancement
A major step toward fault-tolerant quantum computers
Pan Jianwei, a renowned physicist and professor at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), has taken a significant step in the tech race against the US. He hopes to build practical, fault-tolerant quantum computers with this breakthrough. The research team also included scientists from Shanxi University who demonstrated how to simulate and detect these complex matter states with super stable corners or hinges instead of surfaces or edges.
Resilience
Potential impact on quantum computer operation
The new kind of matter, which is not found in nature, could enable quantum computers to function correctly even in the presence of errors or noise. This is a major hurdle for machine complexity due to the sensitivity of qubits, the basic units of quantum information, to their environment. The breakthrough could pave the way for more robust and reliable quantum computing systems in the future.