Rubidium-based quantum computers significantly improve performance

Quantum computers have enormous potential, but they are currently still producing too many errors. Moreover, quantum chips that work with superconducting qubits have to be cooled with helium to temperatures close to absolute zero. A research collective from several renowned US universities has now presented a quantum processor in the journal Nature that can carry out efficient correction processes at normal ambient temperatures.

The research team, led by lead author Dolev Bluvstein, uses excited states in rubidium atoms that enable the quantum computer to operate at room temperature. The quantum computers from IBM and Google, on the other hand, work with superconducting circuits in the form of qubits that are cooled to temperatures just above -273.15 degrees Celsius. This is because qubits react extremely sensitively to external influences, which can lead to undesirable changes in state during processing.

Susceptibility to errors in quantum computers may decrease

Due to the random state changes of quanta, a qubit consists of several physical units in order to be able to correct the recurring errors in quantum calculations. Previously, it was assumed that more than 1000 physical qubits were needed to calculate a 'logical' qubit, according to Spektum der Wissenschaft.

However, in the current Nature study, the researchers report that they have further improved the efficiency of error correction, measured as 'code distance'. This brings quantum computers one step closer to performing tasks that are too complex for conventional computers.