Fujitsu and RIKEN have made an exciting announcement in the field of quantum computing. The companies have successfully developed a new 64 qubit superconducting quantum computer, which will be used for quantum chemistry calculations and quantum financial algorithms. This achievement leverages the technology developed by RIKEN and its joint research partners, including Fujitsu.
The development of this quantum computer follows Japan’s first superconducting quantum computer, which was unveiled to the public in March 2023. The new 64 qubit computer is a significant advancement in the capabilities of quantum computing and opens up new avenues for research and development.
To complement this breakthrough, Fujitsu and RIKEN have also launched a platform for hybrid quantum computing. This platform combines the computing power of the 64 qubit quantum computer with one of the largest 40 qubit quantum computer simulators developed by Fujitsu. The platform will be available to companies and research institutions that are conducting joint projects with Fujitsu and RIKEN.
The hybrid platform offers several key benefits. Firstly, it enables easy comparison of results from noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) computers with error-free results from quantum simulators. This capability helps to accelerate research in areas such as the evaluation of error mitigation algorithms in quantum applications.
Furthermore, Fujitsu and RIKEN are developing a hybrid quantum algorithm that integrates superconducting quantum computing with high-performance computing (HPC). By combining these two technologies, the partners have created an algorithm that enables quantum chemistry calculations with greater accuracy than traditional algorithms (CCSD(T)). This algorithm will also be included in the new platform.
Looking ahead, Fujitsu and RIKEN plan to continue pushing the boundaries of quantum computing technology. They aim to realize a 1,000 qubit superconducting quantum computer and improve the precision of quantum gate operations. These advancements will pave the way for even more powerful quantum computers in the future.
In addition to the hardware advancements, Fujitsu and RIKEN are committed to providing quantum computing and simulation resources to customers in various fields, including finance and drug discovery. Through this platform, they will facilitate research and development activities for quantum applications, with the ultimate goal of accelerating the practical application of both quantum computing hardware and software.
The development of practical, fault-tolerant quantum computers has been a long-standing challenge due to computing errors caused by noise in the surrounding environment. While experts anticipate that it may take a decade or longer to achieve this goal, the new hybrid quantum computing platform represents a significant step forward. By combining the strengths of superconducting quantum computers and quantum simulators, Fujitsu and RIKEN are bridging the gap between current quantum capabilities and the future potential of quantum computing.
The launch of the new platform marks an important milestone in the race towards practical quantum computing. With Fujitsu and RIKEN leading the way, the age of reliable and accurate quantum computing is inching closer. The possibilities for advancements in various fields are vast, and the future is promising for quantum technology.