Qubit Lifespan Extended by 2.3 Times, a Major Step in Improving Quantum Computing

Quantum computing is a promising technology that could revolutionize how people solve complex equations. However, the basic unit of quantum information called the qubit is fragile and prone to collapse, making it challenging to maintain enough qubits in an ideal state for sufficient time.

Science Alert reported that the recent study extended the time a qubit remained in its ideal state by a factor of 2.3, demonstrating the practicality of quantum error correction (QEC), which allows for redundancy and error removal in quantum information to preserve it for a longer period. The breakthrough could pave the way for developing more stable and reliable quantum computers.

Increasing the Lifespan of Qubit

Researchers at Yale University have successfully extended the lifespan of a qubit, a unit of quantum information, beyond the break-even point, enabling more operations to be performed on it before it fails.

As per the press release, the researchers used quantum error correction, a technique that protects the information encoded in qubits from errors caused by quantum noise, and machine learning to optimize calibration and precision to achieve this breakthrough.

By using the Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill quantum error correction code, the researchers were able to correct more errors than were produced in quantum information, a first for the research field. The qubit's lifespan was extended by doubling the number of operations that could be performed before the qubit failed.

Previously, many research groups had come close to the break-even point, but this study was the first to extend the qubit's lifespan above that point and see a gain greater than one.

According to Steve Girvin, Yale's Eugene Higgins professor of physics, the breakthrough was achieved through interdisciplinary research efforts and the accumulation of progress over the years. This breakthrough could lead to more stable and reliable quantum computers.

Implications of Having a Qubit Above the Break-Even Point

Baptiste Royer, a former postdoctoral student in the Devoret research group at Yale, said that the recent breakthrough in extending the lifespan of a qubit beyond the break-even point demonstrates the feasibility of the theories behind quantum computing.

The breakthrough also validates a cornerstone assumption of quantum computing and could lead to the development of more functional quantum computers that provide an advantage beyond any modern supercomputer.

The Quantum Insider reports that the breakthrough was achieved through a combination of different technologies developed over the years and used in the experiment. The success of quantum computing will depend on the ability to create high-quality quantum bits using quantum error correction.

The recent breakthrough validates that cornerstone assumption and gives hope for the future of the field, according to former Devoret research group member Sivak, who is now a research scientist at Google.

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