#superconductingquantum

In the article “Linear Quantum Coupler for Clean Bosonic Control,” a breakthrough in superconducting quantum circuit design introduces the Linear Inductive Coupler (LINC), which could considerably increase quantum process fidelity and speed. According to researchers, the LINC achieves “ideal quantum nonlinearity” by preventing parasitic mixing products and additional decoherence while selectively triggering coherent processes at high power.

This mixer resolves a critical issue that restricts superconducting quantum designs: the risk of errors and decoherence when the device is inactive vs the need for strong nonlinearity for quick operations. The LINC eliminates this trade-off by separating the coupler into a linear section that is always active and a nonlinear portion that is only activated when driven. First-order insensitivity to dominant experimental faults may represent its best behaviour.

Overcoming Nonlinear Limits

Quantum computing using superconducting circuits relies on high-fidelity nonlinear processes. Josephson junctions' wide-bandwidth nonlinearity often causes drive-induced frequency shifts and leakage to unregulated states, which hinders amplifiers, gates, and couplers.

Recent advances have focused on Kerr-free three-wave mixers (which eliminate spurious processes like the AC Stark shift) and balanced quantum mixers (which explicitly exclude numerous parasitic processes). Despite advancements, higher-order nonlinearities weaken Kerr-free mixers, especially at high drive powers where they may “ionize” into chaotic states.

The LINC enhances these benefits. It uses mixer balance-like selection algorithms to logically suppress half of the undesired mixing results.

LINC Architecture: Designing Linearity

A linear inductor shunts a symmetric superconducting loop with two Josephson junctions to form the LINC circuit. The device may resemble a dipole.

The LINC is designed to run at a DC bias point where the outer SQUID loop's total DC flux is half a flux quantum (ϕ DC = π/2). This eliminates Josephson junction idle effects since the outer loop junctions are biassed to almost infinite inductance. The state is “Kerr-free” and has a fully linear static Hamiltonian since static nonlinearity is negated at all orders. This extremely linear idle state is ideal for linking high-Q modes (bosonic control).

When powered, the LINC commences balanced three-wave mixing across the outer SQUID loop. The LINC relies on the parity protection selection criteria, which strictly limits nonlinear processes and bans a large fraction of parasitic activities. This symmetry eliminates the Kerr-free bias point and even-order nonlinearity simultaneously.

Unlike charge-driven mixers like the SNAIL, the LINC's drive acts on an orthogonal degree of freedom, hence it tends to stay in its undriven ground state. This split optimises drive delivery and LINC frequency separately.

Performance and Durability

The driven LINC's main mixing process is an efficient three-wave mixing mechanism that can cause beamsplitting, squeezing, or two-mode squeezing depending on the drive frequency. Even though an ideal LINC is linear while not moving, driving can cause driven Kerr. Arranging numerous LINCs reduces this, bringing it closer to a modulated linear inductor.

Comparative simulations show the LINC's parity protection's advantage over the Kerr-free SNAIL. In Floquet-Markov simulations with decay and flux-noise dephasing, the LINC suppressed parasitic inter-modulation products in multi-tone operation and had a far higher steady-state driven purity than the SNAIL across all drive frequencies.

The LINC is useful for high-Q bosonic quantum control because it decreases coupled resonator mode nonlinearity and dephasing. Thermal noise dephasing is reduced by the LINC. Analytical estimates suggest a low process infidelity from flux noise, around 10 −10, even in an anti-sweet spot for flux-noise sensitivity. Dynamic decoupling can reduce low-frequency inherited dephasing.

Additionally, the design has been shown to withstand certain usual experimental realities:

Only second-order static nonlinearity can result from a tiny junction or DC flux asymmetry. Even with defects, the LINC Kerr-free point can be tuned close to the ideal bias point.

Adding a parasitic linear inductance in series with the coupler only renormalises frequency and driven properties, preserving the linearity of the idle LINC at ϕ DC = π/2.

Future of Quantum Applications

Scientists expect the LINC to advance quantum technologies, particularly in high-Q control, readout, and amplification. LINC promises to eliminate idle bosonic control errors in multi-photon encodings where hereditary Kerr and thermal noise pollute logical information.

Parity-protection may improve power handling and multi-tone operation for frequency converter and parametric amplifiers (which may permit simultaneous gain at multiple frequencies for multiplexed readout).

The LINC's ability to cleanly activate numerous parametric processes may enable new bosonic control approaches, such as quadrature-quadrature coupling for two-qubit gates in the Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) code.

Wukong Quantum Computer Origin

Origin Origin Quantum, situated in Hefei, China, built China's third-generation autonomous superconducting quantum computer, Wukong. It launched on January 6, 2024, introducing China to quantum computing.

Sun Wukong, the Monkey King from Journey to the West, is the computer's namesake. He is known for his “72 transformations” and mystical skills. This moniker represents the machine's power, versatility, and revolutionary potential.

Technical Specifications and Development

Source: QubitCount The 72-qubit superconducting quantum computer Wukong employs a company-created “Wukong chip”. The chip's 198 physical qubits include 72 functional and 126 coupler qubits to facilitate communication and maintain control as qubits rise.

Its operating temperature must be near absolute zero (-273.15°C), like earlier quantum computers. This requires specially connected cables that separate heat and transfer signals without distortion.

In collaboration with China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, the team developed ultra-low-temperature microwave connection modules with high density. China's superconducting quantum computer industry needs these modules to industrialize.

System Control: Original The system includes Quantum's third-generation quantum control system (“Tianji”). The first automated batch testing of quantum chips in China was enabled by this method, which sped chip calibration and validation and enhanced machine runtime efficiency by dozens of times. Automation facilitates steady performance and faster qubit tuning for quantum processor scaling.

Origin Quantum develops processors, system software, and hardware. China's first quantum computing operating system and control circuits were developed. Vertical integration is needed to optimize speed and implement enhanced error avoidance. China has completed its domestic production chain for superconducting quantum computers, reducing its dependence on foreign components and building a quantum hardware supply chain.

Historical Setting

A conference on quantum physics conducted by Chinese Academy of Sciences member Guo Guangcan started China's quantum computer journey 26 years ago. Leading physicist Qian Xuesen advised addressing quantum information system technological difficulties. Guo Guangcan then began a research project that obtained funding for China's first national quantum information program in 2001. His student and current Origin Quantum chief scientist, Guo Guoping, led important solid-state quantum chip research projects and made a quantum logic gate operation breakthrough in 2013, laying the groundwork for semiconductor-based quantum computers.

Global achievement and accessibility

Through the Origin Quantum Cloud, Origin Wukong Quantum Computer gives people worldwide temporary, free access. Since its release, it has earned global attention: In three months, it performed about 180,000 global quantum computing operations and recorded 8 million remote visits from 120 countries.

Nearly 339,000 jobs were completed, and early 2025 saw nearly 20 million visits.

More than 320,000 missions were performed in 139 countries by April 2025.

Over 530,000 quantum-computing operations for clients in 145 countries were completed by July 2025.

Wukong's cloud has many American users.

Application and Effect

Source Wukong lets professors and students perform intermediate-scale quantum algorithms on a Chinese quantum processor for research in various fields. Among its uses:

Problems with optimization and circuit experiments.

Quantum computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, including the largest, were completed.

Machine learning quantum.

Biopharmaceuticals, fintech, quantum-enhanced AI, and molecular-level biochemical simulations to expedite medication development.

Some applications have moved from lab to field pilots.

Comparison to Other Quantum Computers

The 72 qubits of Wukong are a Chinese business record. Wukong delivered a locally built quantum computer despite being modest compared to American devices like IBM's 1,121-qubit Condor processor. Google demonstrated quantum processing advantage with their 53-qubit Sycamore processor, but Origin Quantum has not with Wukong. In 2021, a USTC team in China achieved quantum advantage with Zuchongzhi 2.1, a 66-qubit superconductor. Zuchongzhi 3.0, presented by another Chinese group, set a quantum computational advantage record in superconducting systems with 105 qubits.

Commercialization, Security

On April 10, 2024, Origin Wukong's Quantum Computer received China's first post-quantum cryptography "anti-quantum attack shield," improving processing power and security. This requires quantum-resistant encryption for platform data transmission to demonstrate proactive protections against hypothetical quantum attacks.

Origin A Chinese government agency, university, and supercomputing center use Wukong Quantum Computer commercially.

Origin Quantum is the only Chinese business offering full superconducting quantum computers.

First export of China's quantum computing technology was a UN Security Council commercial purchase order. Additionally, a major European client bought quantum computing power through export sales.

The US, Canada, and China are the only countries that can commercialize superconducting quantum computers.

Future Hopes

Chinese authorities prioritize developing cutting-edge sectors like quantum technology to lay the framework for future industrial domination. Origin Quantum develops applications, methods, and principles for scalable programmable quantum computing. Quantum computing might cut AI training time from weeks to hours, making it an attractive industrial accelerator.

In coming years, the worldwide quantum computing market could reach $800 billion. Origin Wukong Quantum Computer is China's "entry ticket" into the elite group of superconducting quantum computer producers, laying the stage for error correction and reduction improvements. Quantum computing expertise and software development benefit from its cloud access.

Superconducting QID

Opening the Quantum Realm: How SQUIDs Change Material Knowledge

Superconductivity-based devices unveil the magnetic mysteries of advanced scientific materials. The Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) is vital in condensed matter physics because it accurately monitors magnetic flux. Characterising novel chemicals and interpreting complex spin configurations with SQUIDs increases macroscopically apparent quantum events.

Junction Josephson

All SQUIDs use Brian Josephson's 1962 Josephson Junction, which garnered him the 1972 Nobel Prize. A 100-nanometer-thick insulating layer between two superconductors creates a Josephson junction. The quantum phenomena of Cooper pair tunnelling across this insulating barrier make this simple device so fascinating. Cooper pairs, bound states of two electrons that can tunnel through the insulator, can generate a “supercurrent” without voltage.

The tunnelling supercurrent is described by the First Josephson Equation, which states that the current (Is) is directly proportional to the sine of the phase difference between the two superconducting wave functions. The Second Josephson Equation, where V is the external voltage, controls this phase difference over time.

These equations show two noteworthy behaviours. The DC Josephson effect produces a constant supercurrent when the phase difference is constant without an external voltage. However, the AC Josephson effect produces alternating current when a constant applied voltage linearly evolves a phase difference. The phase coherence of Cooper pairs causes these macroscopic quantum occurrences, which are paradoxical.

DC and RF SQUID

SQUIDs identify magnetic flux using these unique properties. Mainly used SQUIDs include DC and RF.

A superconducting loop in the DC SQUID connects two Josephson junctions in parallel. A magnetic field via this loop causes a phase difference between the arms. DC SQUID total current (Iges) is modulated by external magnetic flux. The equation's concise formulation of this relationship makes the observed current a periodic function of magnetic flux. Sensing current changes can precisely determine an unknown magnetic flux. DC SQUIDs with an area of can monitor magnetic flux density changes as little as Tesla, demonstrating their amazing sensitivity.

RF SQUIDs have a single Josephson junction inside a superconducting loop and a simpler construction. To measure magnetic flux, this single-junction loop is coupled to an RF-powered LC circuit. The self-consistent total flux (Φ) across the loop is formed by the exterior flux (Φex) and current (I) flowing in the loop, which depends on the junction phase difference.

Hysteretic and non-hysteretic RF SQUIDs operate. In hysteretic mode, where a parameter is greater than 1, the loop flux-external flux connection has a range of values.

Energy is lost when flux quanta enter and exit the loop. The measured magnetic flux produces periodic energy loss and RF circuit voltage changes. Since the SQUID loop's generated current modulates the RF circuit's load, the external flux can be measured again in the non-hysteretic mode since the flux relation is single-valued. RF SQUIDs are cheaper and easier to make than DC SQUIDs, but they are less sensitive. Commercial devices like the Quantum Design SQUID Magnetometer use one-loop radio frequency SQUIDs.

Due to their versatility, SQUIDs have several condensed matter physics applications:

First off, SQUIDs are crucial for crystal characterisation, especially phase transitions. The Meissner effect, which happens when a superconductor releases magnetic fields below its critical temperature, can be precisely detected using a SQUID. Measure the diamagnetically magnetised state that results from the transition into a superconducting state, which counteracts external fields, to compute a material's Tc. This concept applies to magnetic field-driven transitions as well as temperature-driven transitions.

Second, SQUIDs are crucial to spin structure investigation. Comparing experimental data with theoretical models by measuring magnetisation as a function of magnetic field can reveal a system's complex spin mechanics. SQUID experiments showed crystallographic anisotropy and an additional Dyzaloshinkskii-Moriya interaction in Cr1/2NbS2, a complicated magnetic material.

Last, SQUIDs are being combined with other cutting-edge technologies to produce new experimental configurations. Attaching a DC SQUID to the tip of a scanning probe microscope allows Scanning SQUID Microscopes to map a material surface's magnetic properties with 100-nanometer spatial resolution.

Visualising material currents, such as edge currents in quantum wells or superconducting phase spatial inhomogeneity, can reveal topological phases and local structural variations. The lower magnetic flux in these scans often indicates superconducting regions due to the Meissner effect, while inhomogeneities reveal local structural and doping changes.

In conclusion

Japan Unveils First Homegrown Quantum Computer: Technological Independence Advances.

Osaka University in Japan

Japan's first superconducting quantum computer, made of local parts and software, was launched by the University of Osaka. The Osaka University Centre for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology revealed the technology on July 28, 2025. This suggests Japan can design, develop, and integrate a cutting-edge quantum system for quantum computing without foreign technology.

All-inclusive From Home

Its wide domestic origin makes this quantum computing effort stand out. Researchers used only domestic technologies to build the quantum computer.

Superconducting qubit chips, control device, dilution refrigerator, and quantum cloud software are all Japanese-made. In the latest model, domestically made components have replaced imported parts like the dilution refrigerator, pulse tube refrigerator, low-noise power supply, cryogenic amplifier, filter, infrared absorber, and magnetic shield. This independence removes supply chain constraints and allows customised system optimisation.

Cryogenic Engineering and Advanced Hardware

Qubits and quantum phenomena like superposition and entanglement distinguish superconducting quantum computers from classical computers. Cooling qubits to -273.14°C (10mK) is necessary for superconductive computers. A pulse tube refrigerator cools the gadget to 4K, and a dilution refrigerator lowers it to 10mK. These critical cryogenic components were installed at the University of Osaka in March 2025 as part of the Moonshot Research and Development Program by ULVAC and ULVAC Cryogenics.

The Moonshot Research and Development Project's home control gadget from QuEL, Inc. uses microwaves to control superconducting qubits. Since July 28, 2025, the institution has control devices that can manage over 28 qubits. RIKEN supplies chips for this device, such their 144-qubit computer. As of early July, eight qubit calibration and a two-qubit quantum entangled state demonstration were complete, and cloud connection testing confirmed the service's usability.

Strong Open-Source Software Ecosystem

Hardware innovation is matched by a great software environment. The whole software stack—including back-end control mechanisms and front-end user interfaces—is open-source. This vast software suite is called OQTOPUS, or Open Quantum Toolchain for Operators and Users. QURI Parts are used for quantum circuit software, whereas OQTOPUS connects front-end, cloud, and back-end layers.

Open-source software components include quelware for control device software, e7awg_sw for FPGA software, qubex for pulse experiment software, qubecalib for microwave processing, and QDash for automatic large-scale pulse experiments. This unrivalled commitment to open-source development is expected to attract a large number of developers, promoting sustainable development.

Strong Open-Source Software Ecosystem

This groundbreaking study was led by Vice Director/Professor Makoto Negoro of QIQB of the University of Osaka and other leading Japanese institutions and business executives. e-trees.Japan, QuEL, QunaSys, Systems Engineering Consultants (SEC), TIS, Fujitsu Limited, RIKEN, ULVAC, and ULVAC Cryogenics are major partners. Famous Japanese agencies including the Cabinet Office, Japan Science and Technology Agency, and Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and Science and Technology have provided crucial financing.

Quantum computers could transform several scientific and industrial domains. Through novel materials and medications, optimisation, and practical technologies for daily life, like machine learning, they may solve problems that traditional computers cannot and reduce the global environmental burden. Unlike other private sector teams that have achieved 50-qubit control, this discovery shows that Japan possesses the technology to build and combine quantum computers. Public sector system integration occurred.

Public Engagement at Expo 2025

From August 14–20, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, will display components of this groundbreaking quantum computer to demystify quantum research and engage a wide audience. This extraordinary show, “entangled moment – [quantum | earth | universe] x art,” will be at Expo Show Centre “WASSE”. The cloud-connected terminals across the site will allow guests to experience quantum computing and run basic quantum programs. The display will show how iPad signals reach the qubit, refrigerator, and University of Osaka.

The exhibit has quantum computer-generated artwork and a device that enables visitors experience quantum entanglement. It also partners with Tama Art University Professor Akihiro Kubota to merge science and art. A multiplayer game and quantum theory learning program will use real-time randomised numbers from the Quantum Processing Unit (QPU) to make quantum technology fun for everyone. Before the Expo, quantum researchers and industry leaders will attend a pre-Expo display and experience session on July 28.

This will let several visitors watch up to four qubits operate simultaneously. This locally built system will be linked to the cloud during the unique show, and qubits will rise afterward. The third gadget that inspired this new computer will also run at the Expo to maximise entanglement moments.

QuantumCTek, a well-known Chinese quantum computing startup, has developed and delivered its groundbreaking ez-Q Engine 2.0 superconducting quantum measurement and control system, advancing the global quantum computing environment. On Monday, June 17, this cutting-edge technology was unveiled that can manage over 1,000 qubits. It advances large-scale quantum computing. Its capabilities and architecture focus on superconducting qubits, a major quantum computing hardware platform.

While meeting globally sophisticated technical standards, the ez-Q Engine 2.0 will cost less than half as much as comparable foreign technology. This impressive combination of cost-effectiveness and high performance should accelerate quantum computing technology commercialisation and make it more accessible for research and development. QuantumCTek supplied this system to the University of Science and Technology of China and China Telecom Quantum Group, two major research institutions.

Quantum Computer Nerve Centre

For quantum computing, the ez-Q Engine 2.0 is the “nerve centre”. Its main task is sophisticated signal production control for quantum devices to make quantum computers work. The fundamental component of RF signal processing is needed to manipulate and read superconducting qubit states. This new system has tenfold better integration than its predecessor, increasing design efficiency and capacity, according to the Anhui Quantum Computing Engineering Research Centre.

Tang Shibiao, head of the Anhui Quantum Computing Engineering Research Centre, stressed the innovation's commercial value. He previously stated, “The cost of controlling a single superconducting qubit with a control system was very high”. Historically, excessive cost has hindered quantum system scalability. But the ez-Q Engine 2.0 solves this problem with a highly advanced and cost-effective solution that is “less than half the price of similar products developed by foreign competitors.”

China's Self-Sufficiency Drive

China's pursuit of quantum computer technology is linked to this discovery. China has been carefully investing in quantum computing to ensure its computer dominance. The ez-Q Engine 2.0 uses domestically made essential components, which boosts China's technical ecosystem and reduces its dependence on foreign suppliers. This measure is part of a bigger national push to dominate quantum technology, ensuring that the essential infrastructure is constructed nationally.

Performance and Verification

QuantumCTek's revolutionary control technology has been extensively tested in quantum computing environments. The ez-Q Engine 2.0's validation on China's 504-qubit superconducting quantum computer demonstrated its endurance and capacity to handle complex large-scale systems. This validation shows it can manage several qubits practically.

It also powered the 105-qubit Zuchongzhi 3.0 CPU. Chinese researchers say that the Zuchongzhi 3.0 can accomplish very complex tasks quadrillions of times quicker than typical supercomputers, demonstrating QuantumCTek's control systems' computing prowess. Validations show that the ez-Q Engine 2.0 is feasible and meets high performance standards.

Increasing Quantum Infrastructure

QuantumCTek has great plans for its cutting-edge control technology. Several universities will receive control services for over 5,000 qubits from the company. This effort represents a strategic push towards larger and more complicated quantum systems to handle more difficult issues. Quantum computing infrastructure in China also grew. This breakthrough would increase China's quantum race standing by providing high-capacity quantum computing resources.

QuantumCTek has a busy innovation pipeline. Wang Zhehui, leader of QuantumCTek's research team and deputy director of the Anhui Quantum Computing Engineering Research Centre, said the company is already developing a next-generation system. This system is expected to handle 10,000 qubits and offer advanced error-correction. Scalable and practical quantum computers require error correction because qubits are brittle and error-prone.

Global Quantum Race Heats Up

The release of the ez-Q Engine 2.0 shows worldwide quantum computing competition growing. The US, China, and many European nations are racing to create useful applications for this new technology. Financial modelling, medical research, and cryptography may change with quantum computing. Quantum computing uses quantum mechanics to calculate complex data exponentially faster. This solves intractable material science, AI, finance, and cryptography issues.

China is a formidable competitor in the global quantum race thanks to QuantumCTek's ez-Q Engine 2.0's high qubit management capacity, cost reduction, and smart domestic component design. The technique is an example of the "Quantum Leap" countries are pursuing to achieve broadly available, large-scale quantum computing.

Zuchongzhi 3.0 quantum computer

Chinese researchers introduced Zuchongzhi 3.0, a 105-qubit superconducting quantum gadget. A computing effort that would take the world's most powerful supercomputer 6.4 billion years to complete was completed in seconds by the team. This groundbreaking achievement, previously reported on arXiv and described in a Physical Review Letters study, strengthens China's growing influence in the quest for quantum computational advantage, a crucial turning point at which quantum computers can outperform classical machines in certain tasks.

Zuchongzhi 3.0 outperforms Google's Sycamore quantum computing  efforts by a million times. The work was led by Pan Jianwei, Zhu Xiaobo, and Peng Chengzhi of the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC).

Key Performance and Technical Advances:

Revolutionary Speed and Computational Advantage: Zuchongzhi 3.0 completed complex computational tasks in seconds. The Frontier supercomputer, the world's most powerful classical supercomputer, would take roughly 6.4 billion years to simulate the same procedure. This benchmark demonstrates a staggering 10^15-fold (quadrillion-times) speedup compared to typical supercomputers. In hundreds of seconds, the processor produced one million samples.

Outperforming Google: The processor outperformed Google's 67-qubit Sycamore experiment by six orders of magnitude. Additionally, it is around a million times quicker than Google's latest Willow processor findings, which have 105 qubits. Zuchongzhi 3.0 achieved a 10^15-fold speedup, restoring a healthy quantum lead, while Google's Willow chip achieved a 10^9-fold (billion-fold) speedup.

Upgraded Hardware and Architecture: Zuchongzhi 3.0's 105 transmon qubits in a 15-by-7 rectangular lattice outperform 2.0. The device uses 182 couplers to increase communication and enable flexible two-qubit interactions. The chip uses “flip-chip” integration and a sapphire substrate with improved materials like tantalum and aluminium connected by an indium bump technique to reduce noise and improve thermal stability.

Improved Fidelity and Coherence: The processor has 99.62% two-qubit and 99.90% single-qubit gate fidelity. With 72 microsecond relaxation time (T1) and 58 microsecond dephasing time (T2), qubit stability improved significantly. These advancements allow Zuchongzhi 3.0 to execute more complex quantum circuits within qubit coherence time.

Benchmarking Method

Random circuit sampling (RCS), a famous quantum advantage benchmark, was used in a 32-cycle experiment with 83 qubits. A sequence of randomly selected quantum operations must be performed to measure system output.

The exponential complexity of quantum states makes this procedure impossible for classical supercomputers to replicate. The USTC team carefully compared their findings to the most famous classical algorithms, including those modified by its researchers who had “overturned” Google's 2019 quantum dominance claim by improving classical simulations. This proves the quantum speedup is real given existing knowledge.

Zuchongzhi 3.0 faces competition from other leading processors due to substantial advances.

Google Willow (2024, Superconducting): Zuchongzhi 3.0 and Willow share 105 qubits and 2D grids. Although Google Willow had longer coherence (~98 µs T1) and slightly higher fidelities (e.g., 99.86% two-qubit fidelity vs. Zuchongzhi's 99.62%), its main focus was quantum error correction (QEC), demonstrating that logical qubits outperform physical qubits in fidelity. Willow focused on dependability and scalable machine building blocks, while Zuchongzhi 3.0 ran a larger circuit with physical qubits for raw computing power and speed.

IBM Heron R2 (2024, Superconducting): IBM's highest-performance CPU, this modular and scalable CPU contains 156 qubits. IBM emphasises “quantum utility” for real-world concerns like molecular simulations rather than speed testing.

Amazon Ocelot (2025, Superconducting Cat-Qubits): This small-scale prototype uses “cat qubits,” which suppress specific error types, to provide hardware-efficient error correction and reduce the number of qubits needed for fault tolerance. This experimental vehicle tests a quantum error control system instead of computing speed records.

Microsoft Majorana 1 (2025, Topological Qubits): This chip's novel method promises built-in error protection, stability, and scalability with eight topological qubits. Although it cannot currently match 100-qubit superconducting processors in processing power, its potential for large-scale, error-resistant quantum computation makes it important.

Limitations and Prospects

Despite its impressive findings, the report acknowledges issues. Despite its computing advantage, the random circuit sampling benchmark does not solve actual problems. Critics say this method favours quantum processors. Traditional supercomputing approaches are also threatening quantum advantage.

Multi-qubit operation mistakes remain a key issue, especially as circuit complexity increases. Like previous NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum) devices, the present processor lacks quantum error correction (QEC), hence errors may accumulate during long calculations. Zuchongzhi 3.0's inability to perform time-consuming, complex calculations for real-world tasks like cracking cryptographic techniques does not influence current encryption methods.

Given the rapid development of quantum hardware, the next step may focus on fault tolerance and error correction, two crucial components of large-scale, practical quantum computing. USTC uses Zuchongzhi 3.0 to fix surface code problems. Experts expect economically important quantum advantages in materials science, finance, medicine, and logistics in the coming years if current rates of improvement continue.

Rigetti Computing Launches 84-Qubit Ankaa 3 System with 99.5% Median Two-Qubit Gate Fidelity. Rigetti tops the market with its revolutionary hardware revamp that boosts performance, scalability, and authenticity.

Features

Better Qubit Integrity

The median two-qubit gate integrity of 99.5% in Ankaa 3 cuts error rates in half compared to previous systems. Its median fidelity for fSim gates is 99.5% and for iSWAP gates is 99.0%, which is crucial for complex quantum algorithms like random circuit sampling.

Innovational Cryogenic Architecture

A novel cryogenic hardware design reduces metal content at the refrigerator's coldest point. This innovation improves heat management, magnetic/environmental shielding, qubit cost, and system performance.

Improved Qubit Chip

Rigetti redesigned its qubit for coherence. In collaboration with Fermilab-led SQMS, a new metal deposition approach for qubit circuitry resulted in increased T₁ baseline and longer qubit lifetimes. The circuit configuration was designed to reduce qubit losses.

Josephson Junctions ABAA Method

Rigetti's Alternating-Bias Assisted Annealing (ABAA) technique creates Josephson junctions in the Ankaa 3 chip. This method increases two-qubit gate performance and yield by accurately targeting qubit frequency, increasing fidelity.

Scalable architecture

Ankaa-3 retains Rigetti's scalable chip design with 3D signal transmission. This design supports the integration of many qubit devices, making larger quantum systems easier to create. Rigetti plans to release a system with more than 100 qubits by the end of 2025 and a 36-qubit system constructed on four 9-qubit chips tiled together by the middle of 2025 to reduce mistake rates by twofold.

Meaning of Ankaa 3

It Errs Less:

Ankaa 3 is more accurate than previous systems.

Quantum computations with fewer errors are essential for addressing difficult problems.

It Helps Solve Bigger Issues:

Its power (84 qubits) lets it do more demanding tasks.

This helps Artificial intelligence, finance, climate research, and medicine.

A Big Step Forward:

Researchers aim to build computers that outperform supercomputers.

With Ankaa-3, we're approaching quantum advantage.

Smarter Construction:

Future expansion is easier and more efficient with the design. Like Lego parts that can be connected to make a bigger object.

Keeps Cool and Saves Energy:

Superior cooling systems make Ankaa 3 cheaper to operate.

This is important because quantum computers operate at very low temperatures.

See also Norma, Rigetti 84-Qubit Quantum Cloud Service to South Korea

More People Can Use It:

Ankaa-3 works without a quantum computer.

It is available online to researchers and enterprises globally via cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure and Amazon Braket.

It uses better technology:

Rigetti built the system's primary parts in an innovative way.

The machine is more reliable and easier to build.

Component of a Bigger Scheme:

Rigetti wants more advanced and expansive systems.

From Ankaa 3, they plan to build systems with over 100 qubits.

Briefly:

Ankaa-3 is faster, smarter, and precise.

Researchers and developers can use quantum computers better.

It's a big step towards powerful computers that can tackle real-world problems.

Prospects and availability

Partner access to Ankaa-3 is via Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services (QCS). It is scheduled to be available on Microsoft Azure and Amazon Braket in the first quarter of 2025, expanded to researchers and developers worldwide.

With no debt and $225 million in cash, cash equivalents, and available-for-sale investments, Rigetti is well-positioned to advance quantum computing. To achieve fault-tolerant quantum computing, the company is enhancing system performance and scalability.

In conclusion