A quantum computing initiative established by researchers from Harvard and MIT, QuEra, recently published a roadmap for the most ambitious quantum technology we have seen to date. The company is preparing to launch a quantum computer by 2026 that will contain 100 logical qubits and 10,000 physical qubits. They also claim that the planned system will demonstrate a practical quantum advantage, meaning it will be able to perform useful computational features that classical binary computers cannot do.
A Notable Step in the Field of Quantum Computing
According to the roadmap, if successful, a series of milestones will place QuEra at the forefront of the quantum computing industry. While IBM, considered the current leader of the quantum market, plans to launch a similar system in 2027, Google and Microsoft also have similar systems. According to QuEra, the company will develop systems with 256 and 3,000 physical qubits in 2024 and 2025, respectively, and scale to 10,000 qubits and beyond.
One of the biggest obstacles to scaling quantum computing is the error correction issue. Quantum systems rely on qubits for calculations. These are somewhat similar to the bits in a binary system but are extremely prone to error due to the nature of quantum physics.
QuEra’s quantum computing architecture is significantly different from its industry counterparts, such as IBM’s product that uses superconducting charge qubits called transmon; because it uses atoms as qubits. A QuEra press release on the subject states:
“Quantum computers can maintain the integrity of quantum information for longer periods by implementing error correction protocols and can perform complex calculations that classical computers cannot reach.”
Key Details Towards the Quantum Revolution
Currently, there is no consensus in the scientific community on when practical quantum advantage will be achieved, or if it will be achieved at all. Scientists are conducting countless experiments using quantum computers to solve problems thought to be unsolvable by classical computers, but most of these are laboratory tests with very little or no practical use outside of running specific algorithms.
However, recent developments, including the work done by the QuEra team, show that the current progress, when scaled, could lead to quantum computing systems capable of performing calculations far beyond the capabilities of any current or theoretically reasonable binary supercomputer.
If realized, this quantum revolution is expected to have significant impacts on cryptography, fintech, chemistry, artificial intelligence, transportation, and countless other fields.
