The research study group established and carried out a brand-new procedure that permits the defense and the correction of the vulnerable quantum details in case of mistakes due to qubit loss. Credit: Harald Ritsch / IQOQI
Even quantum computer systems make errors. Their computing capability is amazing; undoubtedly, it goes beyond that of classical computer systems without a doubt. This is due to the fact that circuits in quantum computer systems are based upon qubits that can represent not just 0s or 1sts, however likewise superpositions of 0 and 1 states by utilizing the concepts of quantum mechanics. Despite their fantastic possible, qubits are exceptionally vulnerable and susceptible to mistakes due to the interactions with the external environment.
To fix this essential concern, a global research study group established and carried out a brand-new procedure that permits the defense and the correction of the vulnerable quantum details in case of mistakes due to qubit loss. This research study group released the outcomes of their research study in Nature.
“Developing a fully functioning quantum processor still represents a great challenge for scientists across the world,” discusses Davide Vodola who is among the authors of the research study in addition to a scientist at the University of Bologna. “This research allowed us, for the first time, to implement a protocol that can detect and, at the same time, correct errors due to qubit loss. This ability could prove to be essential for the future development of large-scale quantum computers.”
We understand that quantum processors reveal a specific tolerance versus computational mistakes. But we understand insufficient about how to avoid and fix the mistakes that are because of a total or partial loss of qubits.
When quantum computer systems elaborate the information, some qubits can be entirely lost from the quantum signs up or they can shift to undesirable electronic states. The result of both these procedures is a loss that might render the quantum processor worthless. For this factor, creating theory-based and speculative strategies that can evaluate and reduce the repercussions of these mistakes is exceptionally essential.
“To solve this problem, the first thing our research group did was to develop an effective theoretical approach to the issue,” states Vodola. “We managed to show that the information stored in a register with some qubits can be protected and fully retrieved in case one of these qubits gets lost.”
Then, the research study group executed this procedure in a real-life quantum processor. This is hard at all, nevertheless. Indeed, for examining whether a qubit is lost, a direct measurement of it will ruin all the details that is included in the quantum register.
The research study group developed the service of utilizing an extra qubit that works as a probe and can examine the existence or lack of other qubits without changing the computing procedure. This concept worked, enabling the scientists to effectively check their procedure in real-time.
“We are happy with the results of this test on the trapped-ion quantum processor of the University of Innsbruck,” verifies Vodola. “The same protocol can be implemented in different quantum computer architectures that are currently under development by other research centers or private institutions.”
The title of this research study is “Experimental deterministic correction of qubit loss” and was released in Nature journal. A research study group led by Innsbruck University (Austria) performed the experiment; the scientists are Rainer Blatt and Thomas Monz (leading the group of the trapped-ion quantum processor), Roman Stricker, Martin Ringbauer and Phillip Schindler, who performed the experiment. Davide Vodola, who works as a scientist at the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Bologna, and Markus Müller (RWTH Aachen University, Germany) likewise took part in the research study.
Reference: “Experimental deterministic correction of qubit loss” by Roman Stricker, Davide Vodola, Alexander Erhard, Lukas Postler, Michael Meth, Martin Ringbauer, Philipp Schindler, Thomas Monz, Markus Müller and Rainer Blatt, 9 September 2020, Nature.
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2667-0
