A team of researchers from the University of Science and Technology (USTC) at China University of Science and Technology (USTC) has achieved major advances in quantum computing.
Their latest innovation, the Zuchongzhi-3 quantum processor, sets new records for computational power and strengthens China’s leadership in the field of quantum technology.
The superconducting quantum computing prototype boasts an impressive 105 qubits and 182 couplers, well beyond its predecessor, the Zuchongzhi-2.
Unprecedented calculation speed
The Zuchongzhi-3 quantum processor demonstrates extraordinary calculation speeds that drive faster than the most advanced supercomputers available today.
The results also surpass Google’s latest results by one million times, making it one of the most powerful quantum devices ever developed.
Quantum advantage and advances in competition
Quantum dominance, the point where quantum processors surpass classic supercomputers, has long been a benchmark for quantum computing.
In 2019, Google’s Sycamore processor was equipped with 53 qubits and completed complex computational tasks in 200 seconds. This task is estimated to use a classic supercomputer of 10,000 years.
However, in 2023, USTC researchers demonstrated that with advanced classical algorithms and over 1,400 A100 GPUs, the same task can be completed in just 14 seconds.
Further advances from the Frontier supercomputer have reduced this to an astounding 1.6 seconds, challenging Google’s previous claims of quantum advantage.
Zuchongzhi-3 Enhanced Features
Zuchongzhi-3 is built on a previous quantum computing prototype.
Compared to the 66-qubit Zuchongzhi-2, the latest quantum processors have seen significant enhancements to performance metrics such as:
A coherence time of 72 microseconds allows for more complex calculations. 99.90% single kit gate fidelity. 99.62% 2-kit gate fidelity. 99.13% read fidelity.
To assess its capabilities, the researchers conducted a 83-kut, 32-layer random quantum circuit sampling task.
The results showed that Zuchongzhi-3 would surpass the world’s most powerful supercomputer by 15 orders of magnitude, further strengthening its role in advancing the benefits of quantum computing.
Towards the future of quantum computing
In addition to achieving quantum advantage, the USTC team is also working on further research in key areas such as quantum error correction, quantum entanglement and quantum chemistry.
By implementing two-dimensional grid qubit architectures, they enhanced qubit interconnectivity and data transfer speed, which are important for scaling quantum systems.
Currently, researchers are working on integration of quantum error correction using distance 7 surface codes, and are planning for the future to extend this to 9 and 11 distances.
These innovations are important for developing fault-resistant quantum computing. This is an important step into large, practical applications of quantum processors.
The meaning of the future
The success of Zuchongzhi-3 has received widespread recognition from the scientific community. Expert reviewers have described it as an important leap in superconducting quantum computing, marking a major upgrade from previous iterations.
Physics Magazine has also published a detailed perspective article that analyses groundbreaking contributions and the broader impact on the future of quantum computing.
As research continues to accelerate, Zuchongzhi-3’s record-breaking performance sets new benchmarks in search of more powerful and practical quantum computing solutions.
With the continued development of error correction and large-scale Kikubit integration, quantum processors like the Zuchongzhi-3 will bring Quantum Computing closer to a future where Quantum Computing will change industries from encryption to material science and artificial intelligence.
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