An IBM cryostat wired for a 50 qubit system. Credit: IBM
IBM has announced a milestone in its race against Google and other big tech firms to build a powerful quantum computer. Dario Gil, who leads IBM’s quantum computing and artificial intelligence research division, said it’s scientists have successfully built and measured a processor prototype with 50 qubits. Gil says it’s the first time any company has built a quantum computer at this scale.
This new processor expands upon the 20 qubit architecture and will be made available in the next generation IBM Q systems. Clients will have online access to the computing power of the first IBM Q systems by the end of 2017, with a series of planned upgrades during 2018. The latest hardware advances are a result of three generations of development since IBM first launched a working quantum computer online for anyone to freely access in May 2016. Within 18 months, IBM has brought online a 5 and 16 qubit system for public access through the IBM Q experience and developed the world’s most advanced public quantum computing ecosystem.
Quantum computing, a technology that’s still in its early phases, uses the quirks of quantum physics to perform calculations at far higher speeds than current computers. Seth Lloyd, an MIT mechanical engineering professor not involved in IBM’s research, says it’s likely that IBM still has glitches to work out but the 50-qubit announcement is a sign of significant progress.
https://phys.org/news/2017-11-ibm-milestone-quantum.htmljCp http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/53374.wss
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