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Genomics is revolutionizing medicine and science, but current approaches still struggle to capture the breadth of human genetic diversity. Pangenomes that incorporate many peoples DNA could be the answer, and a new project thinks quantum computers will be a key enabler.

When the Human Genome Project published its first reference genome in 2001, it was based on DNA from just a handful of humans. While less than one percent of our DNA varies from person to person, this can still leave important gaps and limit what we can learn from genomic analyses.

Thats why the concept of a pangenome has become increasingly popular. This refers to a collection of genomic sequences from many different people that have been merged to cover a much greater range of human genetic possibilities.

Assembling these pangenomes is tricky though, and their size and complexity make carrying out computational analyses on them daunting. Thats why the University of Cambridge, the Wellcome Sanger Institute, and the European Molecular Biology Laboratorys European Bioinformatics Institute have teamed up to see if quantum computers can help.

Weve only just scratched the surface of both quantum computing and pangenomics, David Holland of the Wellcome Sanger Institute said in a press release. So to bring these two worlds together is incredibly exciting. We dont know exactly whats coming, but we see great opportunities for major new advances.

Pangenomes could be crucial for discovering how different genetic variants impact human biology, or that of other species. The current reference genome is used as a guide to assemble genetic sequences, but due to the variability of human genomes there are often significant chunks of DNA that dont match up. A pangenome would capture a lot more of that diversity, making it easier to connect the dots and giving us a more complete view of possible human genomes.

Despite their power, pangenomes are difficult to work with. While the genome of a single person is just a linear sequence of genetic data, a pangenome is a complex network that tries to capture all the ways in which its constituent genomes do and dont overlap.

These so-called sequence graphs are challenging to construct and even more challenging to analyze. And it will require high levels of computational power and novel techniques to make use of the rich representation of human diversity contained within.

Thats where this new project sees quantum computers lending a hand. Relying on the quirks of quantum mechanics, they can tackle certain computational problems that are near impossible for classical computers.

While theres still considerable uncertainty about what kinds of calculations quantum computers will actually be able to run, many hope they will dramatically improve our ability to solve problems relating to complex systems with large numbers of variables. This new project is aimed at developing quantum algorithms that speed up both the production and analysis of pangenomes, though the researchers admit its early days.

Were starting from scratch because we dont even know yet how to represent a pangenome in a quantum computing environment, David Yuan from the European Bioinformatics Institute said in the press release. If you compare it to the first moon landings, this project is the equivalent of designing a rocket and training the astronauts.

The project has been awarded $3.5 million, which will be used to develop new algorithms and then test them on simulated quantum hardware using supercomputers. The researchers think the tools they develop could lead to significant breakthroughs in personalized medicine. They could also be applied to pangenomes of viruses and bacteria, improving our ability to track and manage disease outbreaks.

Given its exploratory nature and the difficulty of getting quantum computers to do anything practical, it could be some time before the project bears fruit. But if they succeed, the researchers could significantly expand our ability to make sense of the genes that shape our lives.

Image Credit:Gerd Altmann /Pixabay

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How Quantum Computers Could Illuminate the Full Range of Human Genetic Diversity - Singularity Hub

PsiQuantum, a Palo Alto, CA-based provider of fault-tolerant quantum computing systems, is to receive $940M AUD ($620M USD) through a financial package, comprised of equity, grants, and loans from the Australian Commonwealth and Queensland Governments.

The company will build a utility-scale quantum computer at a strategically located site near Brisbane Airport in Brisbane, Australia. PsiQuantum is on an plan to have the site operational by the end of 2027. A fault-tolerant quantum computer will be able to solve commercially useful problems across industries built upon chemistry, math, and physics, thereby transforming critical industries including renewable energy, minerals and metals, healthcare and transportation.

Founded in 2015 and led by CEO Jeremy OBrien, PsiQuantum aims to build and deploy the worlds first useful, fault-tolerant quantum computing systems. Its photonic approach enables it to leverage high-volume semiconductor manufacturing and existing cryogenic infrastructure to rapidly scale its systems.

The company works with industry leaders from around the globe whose products and technologies are rooted in fundamental chemistry and science, such as the development of new drugs, more efficient renewable energy technologies including batteries and solar cells, and step-change improvements in processes to produce renewable energy sources such as green ammonia and green hydrogen.

Commenting on the news, Jeremy OBrien said: This platform will help solve todays impossible problems and will serve as tool to design the solutions we so desperately need to safeguard our future. Were thrilled to partner with the Australian and Queensland governments as our team at PsiQuantum takes a massive step forward in our mission to help deliver on the promise of quantum computing.

FinSMEs

30/04/2024

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PsiQuantum to Receive USD620M Investment from Australian Government - FinSMEs

The federal and Queensland governments have put the house on a US quantum startup over local rivals in a financial package worth $940 million (US$620m) to build a quantum computer in Brisbane.

PsiQuantum was founded in Palo Alto, California in 2015 by expat Australian professors Jeremy OBrien, Terry Rudolph, Mark Thompson and Dr Pete Shadbolt. The company hopes to build the worlds first useful quantum computer by 2030. The quantum startup has raised $700 million for its technology, which uses photons as a representation of qubits instead of electrons, and is currently valued at $5 billion.

Its backers include Australian VC Blackbird, which backed the quantum startup during 2021s $450 million Series D.

The funding is a mix of equity, grants, and loans that will see PsiQuantum set up shop near Brisbane Airport to build the worlds first utility-scale quantum computer there. The company says it has an aggressive plan to have the site operational by the end of 2027.

A fault-tolerant quantum computer will be able to solve commercially useful problems and transform critical industries including renewable energy, minerals and metals, healthcare and transportation.

The challenge and holy grail for quantum computing is building a computer with enough physical qubits to enable error-correction a key issue as it operates in an absolute zero (273.15 C) environment. PsiQuantum fusion-based architecture uses a photonics- approach, encoding qubits into particles of light, and leveraging advanced infrastructure in the semiconductor manufacturing industry to fabricate and test millions of photonic devices.

In May 2023 the federal government released its National Quantum Strategy, with the goal of building the worlds first error-corrected quantum computer in Australia amid predictions that the sector will create 19,400 jobs by 2045.

The PsiQuantum project is expected to create up to 400 new, high-skill jobs.

By last August the federal government was quietly seeking expressions of interest for its quantum computer ambitions, with PsiQuantum already earmarked as a frontrunner for federal support. The choice nonetheless raised concerns in the locally-based industry, which includes Silicon Quantum Computing. Founder Professor Michelle Simmons, who received the $250,000 Prime Ministers Prize for Science last year for her cutting edge work in the sector.

Queensland premier Steven Miles declared the state a global leader in the quantum technology industry.

Quantum will bring billions in economic opportunity to Queensland, which will deliver thousands of high paying tech jobs and the chance for Queenslanders to work in careers that will change the world, he said.

This investment partnership is as significant for Queensland and the nation as the first silicon microprocessors were to California that established Silicon Valley.

Federal science minister Ed Husic said in a speech last year that Australia has the ambition to be a big player, not a bit player in quantum.

In January PsiQuantum revealed it scored a contract with the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to work on the Underexplored Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing (US2QC) program, which is looking at whether others approaches to quantum computing, such as the startups photonic approach, is capable of achieving operation faster than conventional predictions.

PsiQuantum cofounder and CEO Jeremy OBrien

PsiQuantum CEO Prof. Jeremy OBrien said his company has the potential to spark the next industrial revolution.

A utility-scalequantum computer represents an opportunity to construct a new, practical foundation of computational infrastructure and in so doing ignite the next industrial revolution, he said.

This platform will help solve todays impossible problems and will serve as tool to design the solutions we so desperately need to safeguard our future. Were thrilled to partner with the Australian and Queensland governments.

The companys chief business officer Stratton Sclavos said the government support is another critical milestone in their plan to build the worldsfirst useful quantum computers.

With a utility scalequantumcomputer in sight, our applications teams have been working with leading companies in pharmaceuticals, semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace, chemicals, and financial services to ensure that fault tolerantquantum applications are ready to deploy when the system is operational, he said.

Blackbird general partnerMichael Tolo emphasised that the company remains Australian by heart and spirit as much as it is by origin despite its US base, and endorsed the government support as a bold and ambitious decision.

It is a stunning nation-building milestone that entrenches our position as the global leader in quantum computing and shows the most ambitious founders around the world that Australia is the best place to scale critical technologies, he said.

PsiQuantum has long flown under the radar in Australia but it has always been and will continue to be an Australian story. Founded by Australian academics who built upon research developed in Queensland and moved abroad as expats to test themselves against the best in the world.

This project creates a path for Australia to capture the economic benefit of research and talent that it has helped to nurture, and for our country to build unfair advantage in the many applications that utility-scale quantum computing will enable across materials science, physics and drug development.

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Federal and Queensland governments bet big on US-based PsiQuantum in $940 million deal to bring quantum ... - Startup Daily

The Novera QPU Partner Program aims to enable high-performing, on-premises quantum computing by creating an ecosystem of quantum computing hardware, software, and service providers who build and offer integral components of a functional quantum computing system. Novera QPU customers can work with Novera QPU partners to build a quantum computer powered by the Novera QPU that satisfies their system requirements and quantum computing research objectives.

BERKELEY, Calif., April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rigetti Computing, Inc. (Nasdaq: RGTI) (Rigetti or the Company), a pioneer in full-stack quantum-classical computing, announces the launch of the Novera QPU Partner Program. The Novera QPU Partner Program is an ecosystem of quantum computing hardware, software and service providers who build and offer integral components of a functional quantum computing system. Novera QPU customers who need control systems, a dilution refrigerator, quantum computing software tools, or integration services can integrate their Novera QPU with Novera QPU Partners technology with the assurance of compatibility and quality.

The founding members of the Novera QPU Partner Program include some of Rigettis most long-time partners and are leaders in their respective areas of quantum computing technology:

Rigetti intends on growing the Novera QPU Partner Program with additional partners on an ongoing basis.

The Novera QPU is a 9-qubit quantum processing unit (QPU) based on the Companys fourth generation Ankaa-class architecture featuring tunable couplers and a square lattice for denser connectivity and fast 2-qubit operations. The Novera QPU is manufactured in Rigettis Fab-1, the industrys first dedicated and integrated quantum device manufacturing facility.

The Novera QPU includes all of the hardware below the mixing chamber plate (MXC) of a dilution refrigerator. In addition to a 9-qubit chip with a 3x3 array of tunable transmons, a 5-qubit chip with no tunable couplers or qubit-qubit coupling which can be used for developing and characterizing single-qubit operations on a simpler circuit, the Novera QPU components include:

While a QPU is the core of a quantum computer, in order to have a functioning quantum computing system, the installation must also include (1) a dilution refrigerator and (2) a control system. Depending on a customers research goals, system requirements, and use cases, there are also a variety of quantum software and integration resources that can be integrated with the Novera QPU.

Dr. Subodh Kulkarni, Rigetti CEO, said: With the Novera QPU, we have a unique opportunity to support the development of on-premises quantum computing capabilities worldwide. At Rigetti, we are experts at overcoming the challenges of building, installing, and supporting a quantum computing system. After a decade in the quantum computing industry, weve also forged long lasting partnerships with world-leading quantum technology companies whose collaborations and expertise helped us advance our capabilities even further. We want to empower Novera QPU customers with an ecosystem of our trusted partners to support their own quantum computing research pursuits, and to help prepare us for a quantum-ready society.

David Gunnarsson, Bluefors CTO, said: Bluefors Dilution Refrigerator Measurement Systems are renowned for their unmatched reliability, and today we have more than 1,250 units in operation worldwide. Its important for us to continue to innovate and develop critical components of a high performing quantum computer. Bluefors next generation gas handling system supports the deployment and easy to use cryogenics for on-premises quantum systems. We have the capability to support our customers with best in industry lead time and we are thrilled to be leading the field and pushing the boundaries of ultra-low temperature cooling.

Nir Minerbi, Classiq CEO, said: Quantum computing relies on bringing together a collection of technologies in order to achieve the best fitting and performing solution. Classiq is proud to be providing efficient, scalable quantum computing software to facilitate best-practice algorithm development with Novera."

Joe Fitzsimons, Horizon Quantum Computing CEO, said: "Rigetti was one of the pioneers of cloud-based quantum computing, and we are delighted to partner with them as Rigetti processors begin to power on-premises systems. As the industry pushes towards quantum advantage, a strong ecosystem and close collaboration between hardware and software efforts is more important than ever. The Novera QPU Partner Program is a welcome new instrument for building collaboration and allowing for tight integration between technologies at all levels of the quantum computing stack.

Bernhard Frohwitter, ParTec AG CEO, said: "The Novera QPU Partner Program is an essential building block in ParTecs strategy of becoming a quantum computing system integrator, building full-stack solutions using a component-based design that relies on a supply chain of quantum technology providers. ParTec looks forward to integrating the Novera QPU in our holistic quantum computer solutions and working with customers on unleashing its potential.

Michael J. Biercuk, Q-CTRL CEO and Founder, said: "The team at Q-CTRL has been excited to work with the Rigetti team to show how the right combination of hardware and infrastructure software can help deliver huge capabilitiesand performance enhancements to end users. Now we're thrilled to be delivering this capability directly to researchers and customers of the Novera QPU to help them achieve their goals using quantum computing with optimal performance."

Dr. Itamar Sivan, co-founder and CEO of Quantum Machines, said: "We're excited to be one of the founding members of the Novera QPU Partner Program. OPX1000 enables users to control their Novera QPU in real-time and push the boundaries of what algorithms and experiments can be performed. By integrating our OPX family of high-performance, processor-based controllers with Rigetti's advanced QPU technology, we are paving the path to accessible, powerful quantum computing solutions and accelerated time-to-market. Our partnership embodies our commitment to delivering industry-leading quantum control capabilities that push the boundaries of our industry closer to real-world applications."

Steve Brierley, founder and CEO of Riverlane said: Together, Riverlanes Quantum Error Correction Stack and Rigettis Novera QPU go hand in glove. End users can use our stack holistically or in parts. This includes our hardware decoder, optimized for Rigettis architecture; our suite of public and proprietary software decoders, QEC Explorer; and Aqueduct, our open quantum experiment management platform.

whurley, founder and CEO of Strangeworks, said: "This Partner Program will enable organizations to procure and build powerful quantum computers at a fraction of the price of commercial systems today. We are thrilled to be one of the first members of the Novera QPU Partner Program and deepen our existing partnership with Rigetti.

Mandy Birch, CEO of TreQ said: TreQ is delighted to partner with Rigetti to build and operate on-premises quantum computing systems that include the Novera QPU. We look forward to supporting pathfinders around the world who are expediting useful and usable next-gen computing infrastructure to elevate their businesses, institutions, and communities.

Moritz Kirste, Head of Business Development Quantum Technologies at Zurich Instruments, said: We are excited to be one of the founding members of Rigettis Novera QPU Partner Program. Zurich Instruments started contributing to quantum technologies in 2015, and ever since we are committed to Swiss quality standards in R&D and in production. This partnership opens new pathways to support our customers with full-stack solutions, locally by our experts in seven international offices.

Among the early adopters of small-scale, high performing QPUs like the Novera QPU, are government agencies. The first two Novera QPU sales were to leading US government labs the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center (SQMS) led by Fermilab, and the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL). Rigetti also recently sold a Novera QPU to Horizon Quantum Computing for their first quantum computing system, to be installed in their new hardware testbed in Singapore. Quantum computing researchers across academia and industry are also beginning to invest in this technology as it is a promising resource to advance quantum computing workforce development.

The Novera QPU Partner Program launch follows Rigettis recent achievements with its larger-scale Ankaa-class quantum systems. Rigettis 84-qubit Ankaa-2 system, which is available over the cloud via Rigettis Quantum Cloud Services (QCS) cloud computing platform, recently achieved a 98% median 2-qubit gate fidelity. This performance marks a 2.5X increase in error performance compared to the Company's previous QPUs. Rigetti was also recently awarded an Innovate UK competition to deliver a 24-qubit Ankaa-class quantum computing system to the UKs National Quantum Computing Centre.

About Rigetti Rigetti is a pioneer in full-stack quantum computing. The Company has operated quantum computers over the cloud since 2017 and serves global enterprise, government, and research clients through its Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services platform. The Companys proprietary quantum-classical infrastructure provides high performance integration with public and private clouds for practical quantum computing. Rigetti has developed the industrys first multi-chip quantum processor for scalable quantum computing systems. The Company designs and manufactures its chips in-house at Fab-1, the industrys first dedicated and integrated quantum device manufacturing facility. Learn more at rigetti.com.

About Bluefors Bluefors is the world leader in manufacturing cryogenic measurement systems for the field of quantum technology. We are dedicated to delivering the most reliable, easy-to-operate systems and versatile on the market. The quality of our products in combination with our scalable production capabilities, has made the quantum technology field recognize us as the preferred choice for their ultra-low temperature requirements. We offer a variety of models of dilution refrigerator measurement systems to meet the specific needs of our customers in laboratories in companies and universities worldwide.

About Classiq Classiq Technologies, the leading quantum software company, provides an all-encompassing platform (IDE, compiler and OS) with a single point of entry into quantum computing, taking you from algorithm design to execution. The high-level descriptive quantum software development environment, tailored to all levels of developer proficiency, automates quantum programming. This ensures that a broad range of talents, including those with backgrounds in AI, ML and linear algebra, can harness quantum computing without requiring deep, specialized knowledge of quantum physics. Classiq democratizes access to quantum computing and equips its users to take full advantage of the quantum computing revolution, including access to a broad range of quantum hardware.

About Horizon Quantum Computing Horizon Quantum Computing is developing a new generation of programming tools to simplify and expedite the process of developing software for quantum computers. By removing the need for prior quantum computing experience to develop applications for quantum hardware, Horizons tools are making the power of quantum computing accessible to every software developer.

The company was founded by Dr Joe Fitzsimons in 2018, a former professor with two decades of experience in quantum computing and computational complexity theory. The leadership team also includes Dr Si-Hui Tan, Chief Science Officer, who holds a Ph.D. in Physics from MIT and has been actively involved in quantum research for the same period.

About ParTec AG ParTec AG, founded in 1999, specializes in the development and building of modular supercomputers, the design, manufacture and integration of quantum computers as well as the development of accompanying software. The team spearheads R&D projects in QC, HPC and AI optimizing efficiency and increasing performance.

ParTec AG positions itself as a quantum computer integrator. We assemble full-stack solutions using components from technology providers, allowing us to offer different type of QPUs and modalities in the same overall system architecture. The physical system will be complemented with a digital twin and the overall solution is integrated into high-performance computing environments with our QBridge integration software.

Further information on the company and ParTec AG's innovative solutions in the field of high-performance computing and quantum computing can be found at http://www.par-tec.com.

About Q-CTRL Q-CTRLs quantum control infrastructure software for R&D professionals and quantum computing end users delivers the highest performance error-correcting and suppressing techniques globally, and provides a unique capability accelerating the pathway to the first useful quantum computers and quantum sensors. QCTRL also has developed Black Opal, an edtech platform that enables users to quickly learn quantum computing.

About Quantum Machines Quantum Machines (QM) drives quantum breakthroughs that accelerate the realization of practical quantum computers. The company's Quantum Orchestration Platform (QOP) fundamentally redefines the control and operations architecture of quantum processors. The full-stack hardware and software platform is capable of running even the most complex algorithms right out of the box, including quantum error correction, multi-qubit calibration, and more. Helping achieve the full potential of any quantum processor, the QOP allows for unprecedented advancement and speed-up of quantum technologies as well as the ability to scale to thousands of qubits. Visit us at: http://www.quantum-machines.co.

About Riverlane Riverlanes mission is to make quantum computing useful, sooner. This will transform the future of computing and start an era of human progress as significant as the digital and industrial revolutions. Achieving this requires a 10,000x reduction in the system errors that quickly overwhelm all quantum computers, today. Riverlane is building Deltaflow, the quantum error correction (QEC) stack, that solves this problem in all quantum computers using every type of qubit. At Deltaflows core is the worlds most powerful quantum error decoder. Deltaflow is powered by a new class of patented QEC semiconductors designed and built by Riverlane.

About Strangeworks Strangeworks provides access to classical, quantum-inspired, and quantum computing technologies through its advanced compute platform. Strangeworks enables organizations to solve today's business problems while pathfinding the solutions for tomorrow. Strangeworks applications, including its flagship Optimization module and its business management tools, make it easy to manage compute resources, teams, and billing - all in one place. Together, Strangeworks helps your team discover new technologies and understand how to apply them to your novel problems. To learn more about how Strangeworks can accelerate your quantum journey, visit https://strangeworks.com.

About TreQ TreQ builds and operates bespoke quantum computing systems, when and where they are needed, for global pioneers advancing economic opportunity, scientific discovery, and collective security.

About Zurich Instruments Zurich Instruments is a Swiss company with a passion for phenomena that are often notoriously difficult to measure. We lead the change by developing cutting-edge hardware and software for quantum computing control systems, lock-in amplifiers, impedance analyzers, and arbitrary waveform generators. As a company of scientists for scientists, we tackle challenges of research by providing a wide product portfolio that reduces complexity of laboratory setups, unlocks new measurement strategies and complies to Swiss quality standards. Our commitment to collaborations and real-time support is reflected in seven offices worldwide, numerous research partnerships, and thousands of publications referring to Zurich Instruments. Since 2021, Zurich Instruments is a part of the Rohde & Schwarz and continues its sustainable growth to advance science and accelerate the second quantum revolution.

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Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this communication may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company and its management, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: the Companys ability to achieve milestones, technological advancements, including with respect to its technology roadmap, help unlock quantum computing, and develop practical applications; the ability of the Company to obtain government contracts successfully and in a timely manner and the availability of government funding; the potential of quantum computing; the ability of the Company to expand its QPU sales; the success of the Companys partnerships and collaborations; the Companys ability to accelerate its development of multiple generations of quantum processors; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company or others; the ability to maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and attract and retain management and key employees; costs related to operating as a public company; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, or competitive factors; the Companys estimates of expenses and profitability; the evolution of the markets in which the Company competes; the ability of the Company to implement its strategic initiatives, expansion plans and continue to innovate its existing services; the expected use of proceeds from the Companys past and future financings or other capital; the sufficiency of the Companys cash resources; unfavorable conditions in the Companys industry, the global economy or global supply chain, including financial and credit market fluctuations and uncertainty, rising inflation and interest rates, disruptions in banking systems, increased costs, international trade relations, political turmoil, natural catastrophes, warfare (such as the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine and related sanctions and the state of war between Israel and Hamas and related threat of a larger conflict), and terrorist attacks; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled Risk Factors and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and other documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements other than as required by applicable law. The Company does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

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Rigetti Computing Launches the Novera QPU Partner Program - GlobeNewswire

Editors Note: Why do qubit count and quality matter? Whats the difference between physical qubits and logical qubits? Quantum computer vendors toss these terms and numbers around as indicators of the strengths of their systems. For seasoned quantum computing watchers, the rationale behind the claims are well-known and appreciated. However, there are many who are new to the quantum information science and for whom a qubit count/quality 101 backgrounder can be helpful. Heres a brief explanation from Yuval Boger of QuEra Computing. BTW, QuEra has a nice glossary of quantum terms on its website.

In recent months, several quantum companies have made roadmap announcements with plans to reach 10,000 physical qubits in the next five years or sooner. This is a dramatic increase from the current 20 to 300 qubits, especially given that several of these companies have yet to release their first product.

What makes 10,000 qubits such an important milestone, and what will quantum computers be capable of once that number is reached?

The effort to achieve 10,000 physical qubits in quantum computing is more than a mere pursuit of quantity; it embodies strategic milestones toward unlocking the full potential of quantum computation. Broadly speaking, 10,000 physical qubits allow for the practical realization of over 100 logical qubits, essential for performing longer, more complex computations with a lower chance of errors. Below, I explain the important distinction between physical and logical qubits, the significance of reaching and crossing the 100 logical qubit threshold, and the varied path different quantum computing implementations take to get there.

While increasing the number of qubits is good, increasing the qubit quality is even more important. One key attribute of good qubits is the error rates associated with single- and two-qubit operations and the lifetime of a qubit. The error rate indicates how often qubit operations are successful. These might be operations on single qubits, such as flipping a qubit, or operations on two qubits, such as entangling them. The state-of-the-art in two-qubit operations is approaching 99.9% success. While 99.9% might sound great, this success rate implies that about 1 in 1,000 operations fail. Thus, if an algorithm requires several thousands of two-qubit operations, it will likely produce incorrect results. Truly useful algorithms require millions of such operations.

While pursuing 10,000 physical qubits is critical, its imperative to acknowledge that effective quantum error correction is necessary since it is unlikely that physical qubit error rates will sufficiently improve to enable these longer, more complex algorithms. This is where logical qubits come in. Logical qubits are a collection of physical qubits that address this problem. By cleverly spreading the information from a single qubit across several qubits, detecting and correcting many errors becomes possible. The exact way to do so and the number of physical qubits that are required to create a good enough logical qubit is an active area of research, but depending on the desired error rate and the selected qubit technology, dozens, hundreds, or thousands of physical qubits will be required to create one good fault-tolerant logical qubit.

The transition from noisy, physical qubits to fault-tolerant, logical qubits is not merely technical; its transformative, marking the difference between quantum computing as an experimental curiosity and a practical technological powerhouse. The leap towards 10,000 physical qubits is intrinsically aimed at enabling the construction of a significant number of logical qubits, with 100 being a critical milestone for demonstrating practical quantum advantage in various computational tasks.

One reason reaching 100 logical qubits is significant is the simulation limit. When simulating quantum algorithms, classical computers face exponential growth in computational requirements. Todays most powerful supercomputers can simulate quantum algorithms with about 50 perfect qubits. This is called the simulation limit. Thus, the ability to run algorithms with 100 logical error-corrected qubits would enter an exciting era where quantum computers far exceed the computational capabilities of classical machines while also certifying that the calculation results are accurate. Achieving 100 logical qubits would signify the transition from theoretical or small-scale experimental quantum computing to practical, impactful applications, heralding a new era of computational capabilities.

Imagine a plane with a range of 20 miles. Useful? Not really. Now imagine a plane with a 1,000-mile range. That would be useful for short-haul flights but not for longer trips. A plane with a 10,000-mile range? This is useful for most applications. Similarly, a 100-logical-qubit quantum computer can provide real business value for some applications, such as optimization or machine learning. Larger problems, such as molecular simulations, still require many more logical qubits. Those may require 1,000 logical qubits, while 4,000 logical qubits are expected to be required to crack RSA-2048.

Multiple paths to 10,000 qubits

The journey to 10,000 qubits is navigated through diverse quantum computing technologies, each with unique challenges and advantages:

Each of these technologies is on a unique path to overcoming their respective challenges, with the collective goal of achieving the scale necessary for practical quantum computing.

In conclusion, the quantum computing industrys roadmap towards 10,000 physical qubits and thereby achieving over 100 logical qubits encapsulates both the challenges and the transformative potential of quantum computing. While the winning approach is yet to be determined, it appears that we are getting closer and closer to truly useful quantum computers.

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Crossing the Quantum Threshold: The Path to 10,000 Qubits - HPCwire