A research team at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) has unveiled Zuchongzhi-3, a 105-qubit superconducting quantum computer that processes calculations at speeds 1015 times faster than today’s most powerful supercomputer and one million times faster than Google’s latest results.
China’s USTC unveils Zuchongzhi-3: A leap in quantum computing speed
Zuchongzhi-3 represents a major leap forward towards quantum supremacy. The machine utilizes 105 qubits and 182 couplers, demonstrating computational power orders of magnitude beyond Google’s previous results. The study, authored by Jianwei Pan, Xiaobo Zhu, Chengzhi Peng, and others, was published as a cover article in Physical Review Letters.
Quantum supremacy is defined as the capability of a quantum computer to perform tasks beyond the abilities of classical computers. In 2019, Google’s 53-qubit Sycamore processor completed a specific sampling task in 200 seconds, a task estimated to require 10,000 years on the fastest supercomputer of that time.
However, in 2023, researchers at USTC showcased advanced classical algorithms achieving the same task in just 14 seconds using over 1,400 A100 GPUs. Now, with the Frontier supercomputer’s enhanced memory, this task can be performed in only 1.6 seconds, challenging prior claims of quantum supremacy from Google.
Technical specifications
Building on the previous 66-qubit Zuchongzhi-2, Zuchongzhi-3 enhances performance metrics significantly. Key features include a coherence time of 72 microseconds, single-qubit gate fidelity of 99.90%, two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.62%, and readout fidelity of 99.13%. These enhancements allow for the execution of more complex operations and computations.
The team conducted an 83-qubit, 32-layer random circuit sampling task, achieving a computational speed that surpasses the current most powerful supercomputer by 15 orders of magnitude. Furthermore, Zuchongzhi-3 outperformed Google’s latest quantum computing results by six orders of magnitude, establishing a new benchmark in superconducting quantum systems.
Following these advancements, USTC researchers are focused on quantum error correction, quantum entanglement, quantum simulation, and quantum chemistry. They have implemented a 2D grid qubit architecture to improve qubit interconnectivity and data transfer rates. Currently, they are integrating surface code for quantum error correction, starting with a distance-7 surface code, and they plan to extend this to distances of 9 and 11.
The research has garnered significant acclaim. One reviewer described it as benchmarking a new superconducting quantum computer with state-of-the-art performance and noted the substantial upgrade from the previous 66-qubit Zuchongzhi-2.
Collaborators included Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Sciences, Henan Key Laboratory of Quantum Information and Cryptography, China National Institute of Metrology, Jinan Institute of Quantum Technology, the School of Microelectronics at Xidian University, and the Institute of Theoretical Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Featured image credit: USTC
