Microsoft and Atom Computing claim breakthrough in reliable quantum computing

To address these challenges, multiple physical qubits are combined to form logical qubits, which leverage quantum error-correction techniques to detect and mitigate errors during computation.

Logical qubits play a critical role in enabling reliable quantum computing, as they provide the stability and precision necessary for performing complex algorithms and achieving practical quantum advantage in real-world applications.

“Error correction, stability, and scalability are crucial for reliable quantum computations to address real-world applications, and logical qubits are more stable and less error-prone than physical qubits,” said Charlie Dai, VP, principal analyst at Forrester. “This achievement demonstrates substantial progress in such direction towards quantum advantage.”

Neutral-atom qubits as the foundation

Atom Computing uses neutral atoms manipulated by laser pulses to store and process quantum information. According to the companies, this design provides advantages over other qubit technologies, including scalability and reduced noise sensitivity, which are critical for error correction.

Microsoft’s qubit-virtualization system builds on these physical qubits to create logical ones, enabling more stable quantum operations. “Reliable quantum computing requires qubits that can detect and correct errors during computations,” the company noted in a blog post.

The machine’s reliability stems from achieving a two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.6% and the ability to detect and correct errors, even when qubit losses occur. The teams created 24 logical qubits and entangled them in a Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state, which the companies claim represents the highest number of entangled logical qubits on record.