On November 18th, IBM officially announced the launch of 127 qubits code-named “Eagle” at the Quantum Summit 2021.processor, This is currently the world’s largest number of qubits, and is the first quantum computing processor to break the “100-bit mark”.Its scale even surpassesGoogleThe prototype of quantum computing “Platanus” and my country’s “Zuchongzhi”.
Before introducing IBM’s 127-qubit processor in more detail, we must first understand a concept, what is “quantum computing”? For example, in 1969, mankind overcame all difficulties, landed on the moon for the first time, and made history.But today, human beings still can’t use it freely.computerAccurately capture the most delicate parts of the vast universe.
IBM also said, “If we limit our thinking to the computing world as we know it, it is almost a fantasy to build a device that can truly capture the motion of atoms to solve the most challenging problems of our time.” Just like landing on the moon, researchers have an ambitious goal, that is, to create a large quantum computer that can surpass traditional computers.
In essence, the so-called “quantum computing” is to combine quantum mechanics and computational theory, make full use of the superposition, entanglement, interference and other characteristics of quantum to show powerful computing capabilities. The core of the development of quantum computers is quantum-level computer processors, which can help quantum computers perform high-speed operations and process quantum information.
The scale surpasses Google’s “Plananus” and my country’s “Zuchongzhi”
The “Eagle” processor that IBM launched this time contains 127 operable and connected qubits. What is this concept? That is to say, the number of classic bits required to represent a state on the “Eagle” processor is more than the current global population of more than 7.5 billion.
In contrast, Google in the United States launched the 53-qubit quantum computing prototype “Platanus” in September 2019. It took 200 seconds to sample a quantum Circuit one million times, and used the world’s number one at the time. It takes ten thousand years for the supercomputer “Summit” to complete the same task.
In May of this year, the Pan Jianwei team of the University of Science and Technology of China announced the development of a new quantum computer “Zuchongzhi”, which is a 62-qubit programmable superconducting quantum computing prototype developed by my country. The “Zuchongzhi” is currently in the international market. The quantum computing prototype with the largest number of superconducting qubits. According to media reports, the task that the world’s strongest supercomputer can complete in only eight years can be achieved with the “Zuchongzhi” quantum computer in as little as 1.2 hours, setting a new record again.
In fact, as early as 2019, IBM launched the 27-qubit “Falcon” processor, and then in 2020, it launched the 65-qubit “hummingbird” processor. The newly launched 127-qubit “Eagle” processor uses a new technology to place control wiring on multiple physical layers in the processor through an architecture that reduces the number of unnecessary components, while keeping the qubits in a single layer. , Thereby significantly increasing the qubits.
The newly increased number of qubits allows users to explore problems with higher complexity when conducting experiments and running applications, such as optimizing machine learning or modeling new molecules and materials for use from the energy industry to drug discovery All areas of the process.
According to the introduction of Dr. Darío Gil, Senior Vice President and Director of Research at IBM: “The arrival of the’Eagle’ processor is an important step towards the day when quantum computers surpass classical computers in useful applications. Quantum computing has the power to change almost everything. Field and help us solve the biggest problems of our time. That’s why IBM continues to innovate rapidly in quantum hardware and software design, build methods for quantum and classical workloads to empower each other, and create a world that is vital to the development of the quantum industry ecosystem.”
What are the technical difficulties in breaking through the 100-qubit processor barrier?
First of all, “quantum computing” utilizes the basic quantum properties of matter at the subatomic level, providing the possibility to greatly increase computing power.But one thing I have to say is that the basic computing unit of quantum computing is quantumcircuit, Arranging qubits into quantum gates and measuring, if the quantum processor has more qubits, the more complex and valuable the quantum circuit it can run.
With the expansion of quantum processors, each additional qubit increases the space complexity (the amount of space required to execute the algorithm)RAMThe amount of space) will be doubled, so that classical computers can reliably simulate quantum Circuits, and the benefit of doubling the space complexity is to allow people to enter the field beyond the capabilities of classical computers.
As early as last year, IBM showed its quantum computing technology roadmap to the outside world, showing that to launch a 127-bit IBM quantum processor this year, it has now fulfilled its original promise. Next, IBM also plans to launch a 433-bit IBM quantum processor in 2022, and a 1121-bit IBM quantum processor in 2023. It also promises to launch a processor with more than one million bits in the future.
(The roadmap of quantum computing technology published by IBM)
Quantum computing innovation, but few players can land
A long time ago, there was a popular phrase on the Internet: “Indeed, quantum mechanics.” As a common slogan of science fiction, it means that when you encounter difficult problems, rely on the power of science. It feels very powerful) Forcibly open his mind. Since the theory of quantum mechanics is not understood by the general public, it is more of a popular element in story creation. It is especially useful in some places where the explanation is not clear. The audience will use it to tease when they see it too much.
But from the perspective of technological development, the possibility of combining quantum mechanics with computers was first discovered in 1982 by the famous American physicist Richard Feynman. Soon after, David Deutch, a physicist at the University of Oxford, UK, initially expounded the concept of quantum computers in 1985, and pointed out that quantum parallel processing technology would greatly improve the functions of traditional computers.
The fundamental advantage of a quantum computer is that it uses atoms smaller than molecules as the most basic unit of data to perform operations. In fields such as cryptography, aerospace, and data analysis, quantum computing has played a vital role.
Taking cryptography as an example, the most common field of quantum computing is advanced cryptography. The ordinary computers that people use today make it infeasible to use very large prime number decomposition (300 + integer) encryption when cracking. With quantum computers, this decryption may become trivial, resulting in stronger protection for our digital lives and assets. Of course, traditional encryption can also be broken faster; in terms of data analysis, quantum mechanics and quantum computing can help solve problems in the field of topological analysis, such as expressing geometric shapes in a specific way, and solving the fundamental problems in today’s traditional computers. Impossible calculations.
Although the research on molecules, photons, and quantum computers has just started, it is not clear what kind of functions will be brought about in the future, but scientists are full of confidence, and governments of various countries are also very supportive of their scientific research. Among the world’s large technology companies, including Google, IBM,MicrosoftCompanies including those have begun to invest in the development of quantum computing. There are also Tsinghua, China University of Science and Technology, Alibaba,HuaweiSuch as units with strong scientific research capabilities, but one thing can be known that high R&D investment is indispensable for quantum computing research and development, and large enterprises even invest hundreds of millions of dollars. All in all, currently the United States, the United Kingdom, China and other countries have successively carried out basic research on quantum computers, and we look forward to the early popularization of this research and bring more benefits to people’s lives.