• Zuchongzhi-3 surpasses Google’s quantum computing results.
• Processes an 83-qubit sampling task 15 orders of magnitude faster than classical supercomputers.

A research team at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) has introduced Zuchongzhi-3, a 105-qubit superconducting quantum computer capable of processing calculations at speeds 10¹⁵ times faster than the most powerful supercomputer and one million times faster than Google’s latest quantum results.

Zuchongzhi-3 builds on the previous 66-qubit Zuchongzhi-2, pushing the boundaries of quantum computing performance. The machine features 105 qubits and 182 couplers, giving it computational power that surpasses Google’s results by six orders of magnitude. The research was led by Jianwei Pan, Xiaobo Zhu, and Chengzhi Peng and published in Physical Review Letters.

In 2019, Google claimed ‘quantum supremacy’ (see below) when its 53-qubit Sycamore processor completed a sampling task in 200 seconds – a task that would have taken 10,000 years on the fastest supercomputer at the time.

However, in 2023, USTC researchers revealed that advanced classical algorithms could complete the same task in 14 seconds using over 1,400 A100 GPUs. With the upgraded memory of the Frontier supercomputer, the task can now be performed in 1.6 seconds, challenging Google’s earlier claim.

What is quantum supremacy?

Quantum supremacy refers to the point at which a quantum computer can perform calculations beyond the ability of the most powerful classical computers, marking a shift in computational capability, enabling tasks that were previously considered impossible.

Achieving quantum supremacy has the potential to change several fields. In cryptography, quantum computers could run Shor’s algorithm, which would compromise existing encryption methods. In drug development, improved computational power could hasten the discovery and development of new medications. More precise simulations could improve weather forecasting and climate change models, whereas quantum algorithms in stock trading could refine market analysis and help in the identification of better trading strategies. Quantum simulations could also lead to the discovery of new materials with particular properties, thereby benefiting fields like material science and manufacturing.

Technical specifications and performance

Zuchongzhi-3 improves on the technical performance of its predecessor with enhanced qubit coherence and gate fidelity. It comes with a coherence time of 72 microseconds, single-qubit gate fidelity of 99.90%, two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.62%, and readout fidelity of 99.13%. The improvements enable the system to handle more complicated operations and computations with higher accuracy.

The team conducted an 83-qubit, 32-layer random circuit sampling task, demonstrating a computational speed 15 orders of magnitude faster than the most powerful classical supercomputer. This places Zuchongzhi-3 at the forefront of quantum computing capability.

Current state of quantum computing

Despite advancements like Zuchongzhi-3, researchers face tremendous obstacles in achieving genuine quantum supremacy. While development is promising, current systems have yet to reach definitive benchmarks for quantum supremacy. Increasing the number of qubits and improving their stability remain important for enhancing computational power. High error rates in quantum calculations also continue to impact the reliability and performance of quantum systems.

Progress in quantum computing has been rapid, but refining error correction and scaling systems remain key challenges.

Next steps and future focus

USTC researchers are now working on enhancing quantum error correction, quantum entanglement, and quantum simulation. They used a two-dimensional grid qubit architecture to enhance qubit interconnectivity and data transfer rates.

The team has started implementing a surface code for quantum error correction, starting with a distance-7 code and hoping to expand to distances of 9 and 11. According to one reviewer, the research marks a significant upgrade from Zuchongzhi-2 and sets a new benchmark in superconducting quantum computing.

Major players in quantum computing

Investment in quantum computing has grown, with significant commitments from industry leaders. While Microsoft has concentrated on building scalable quantum systems using topological qubits, Google has been working on its Sycamore processor and fault-tolerant quantum computing.

IBM has been developing superconducting quantum processors and working on quantum error correction, and Alibaba focused on quantum simulation and cryptography. The US and China remain at the forefront of quantum research, with government and private sector investment driving rapid development.

Collaborative effort

Contributors to the research included the Shanghai Research Centre for Quantum Sciences, Henan Key Laboratory of Quantum Information and Cryptography, China National Institute of Metrology, Jinan Institute of Quantum Technology, Xidian University’s School of Microelectronics, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Theoretical Physics.

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