Aurora is the world's first photonic quantum computer, powered by individual processors connected via fiber optic cables. (Image credit: Xanadu/YouTube)
Researchers have created a quantum computer that uses light to process information, opening the door to developing quantum systems that can operate in a networked environment at room temperature.
The new system, called Aurora, is the first photonic quantum computer that can operate at scale using multiple modules connected by fiber optic cables. The system solves some of the most significant problems in quantum computing, including scalability, fault tolerance, and error correction, according to Xanadu.
The breakthrough could lead to efficient quantum data centers with improved fault tolerance and lower error rates than currently possible, the researchers said in a paper published Jan. 22 in the journal Nature.
“The industry has two major challenges to overcome: improving quantum computer performance (error correction and fault tolerance) and scalability (networking),” said Christian Widbroek, founder and CEO of Xanadu, the company that developed the new system.
Traditional qubits, or superconducting qubits, are the fundamental building blocks of quantum computing and play a key role in quickly processing large amounts of data.
However, these qubits use microwave signals to process data, which generates heat that can damage equipment. Additionally, current cooling methods used to create a near-absolute-zero computing environment can also damage equipment and make it difficult to access the machines.
By using light or photonic qubits instead of microwave ones, Widbrook and his team have developed a light system that uses networked photonic chips. This makes Aurora natively connected, as fiber optics are the backbone of the global network structure.
Introducing Aurora: The First Modular, Scalable, and Networkable Quantum Computer – YouTube
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Light-based quantum computing networks
Aurora's developers claim that by breaking quantum computers into smaller, less error-prone components, they can improve quantum error correction by connecting the blocks together.
“The fundamental problem of fault tolerance and finding ways to correct errors in quantum states faster than they occur remains a major challenge to performing any useful computation,” said Darran Milne, a quantum information theory doctor and CEO of technology company VividQ, who was not involved in the project.
“Rather than trying to compute with one big quantum computer, they [Xanadu] seem to be trying to break it down into smaller, simpler systems that are easier to fix individually,” Milne added to Live Science. “It remains to be seen whether that actually solves the problem or just increases the number of errors.”
The structure is based on technologies used in X8 (quantum computing hardware) and Borealis (a single-system quantum computer). The system includes 35 photonic chips connected via 8 miles (13 kilometers) of fiber-optic cables.
“Photonics is truly the most optimal and natural way to do both computing and networking,” the researchers said in a statement. “We could now, in principle, scale to thousands of server racks and millions of qubits.”
Potential applications of the Aurora photonic quantum computer include modeling molecules and calculating potential results for pharmaceutical trials, which could eliminate lengthy drug testing. Photonic quantum computers could also usher in a new era of highly secure, encrypted communications, known as quantum cryptography.
In the future, the Xanadu team intends to focus on eliminating the weakening of the optical
Sourse: www.livescience.com
