China has just hit a huge milestone in the world of quantum computing with the launch of the Tianyan-504, a superconducting quantum computer packed with a 504-qubit chip called "Xiaohong." This is a step forward for China, pushing past the 500-qubit mark and leveling up its domestic quantum capabilities.
The Xiaohong chip was developed by the Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. After it was ready, it was handed over to QuantumCTek Co., Ltd., a quantum tech company based in Anhui Province. The chip's key specs—like qubit lifetime, gate accuracy, and quantum circuit depth—are expected to be on par with some of the top international quantum computing platforms, especially those that operate on the cloud.
Plans are in place to integrate the Tianyan-504 into the "Tianyan" quantum computing cloud platform, which will make the system accessible to users worldwide. Since its launch in November 2023, the platform has already received over 12 million visits from users in more than 50 countries.
China Telecom Quantum Group, established in May 2023, is teaming up with QuantumCTek to advance the development of quantum computers using the Xiaohong chip.
This new achievement builds on China's earlier successes in quantum computing, including the "Jiuzhang 2.0" and "Zuchongzhi 2.1" systems. The Jiuzhang 2.0, for example, uses 113 detected photons, while the Zuchongzhi 2.1 features 66 qubits. With these advancements, China has become the only country with a quantum advantage in photonics and superconducting quantum computing.
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