MIT TECH REVIEW: A new record of 256 cubits, a quantum computer company that also invests in Rakuten

Physicists of Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have finally discovered a quantum computing "killer app."This is a GIF image of Mario Brothers drawn in Cubit (quantum bit).This cubit can also be changed to paintings such as space invaders and tetris.It is a cubit that can draw any pattern.

The GIF image was created by Boston's startup company Cuera Computing.It has recently been unveiled to show the program ability of its 256 cubits quantum simulator.A quantum simulator is a dedicated quantum computer built to solve specific types of problems.

Cuella's quantum simulator is the latest breakthrough in attempts to increase the size of quantum computing and improve the ability to solve actual problems.As the number of cubits increases, more information can be saved and processed.Researchers involved in the development of quantum technology are constantly competing to implement more cubits.

In 2019, Google announced that its 53 cubits have achieved "quantum transcendence" and have performed tasks that can not be processed on conventional computers.However, IBM opposed it and developed a 53 cubit computer in the same year.In 2020, Aeon Q (IonQ) showed a 32 cubit -bit system and introduced it as the "most powerful quantum computer in the world."And in the third week of November 2021, IBM just released a 127 cubit -bit quantum processor.The company's press release is described as "a little miracle in design.""It's a big news for me," said IBM's Jay Gambetta Quantum Computing Vice President.

But cuella claims that it has developed a device with a much larger number of cubits than those rivals.

Of course, the ultimate goal of quantum computing is not to do tetris, but to transcend the conventional computer in the processing of actual problems.Perhaps within 10 to 20 years, experts believe that if the quantum computers have enough performance, they may change in the fields of medical, finance, neuroscience, and AI (artificial intelligence).To deal with such complicated problems, you will need thousands of cubits quantum computers.

However, it is not only the number of cubits.

Cuella also appeals to the improvement of the program's ability to program.Each cubit is located in a computer as a single -low and low -temperature atom, and these atoms are accurately placed on continuous lasers (physicists are called "optical tweezers") accurately.By placing the cubits, the computer is programmed and adjusted according to the research issues.Furthermore, it is possible to reconstruct the arrangement in real time during the calculation processing.

"In order to deal with various problems, the atoms need to be placed accordingly."This is the co -inventor of the technology, CEO, the CEO of Cuella Alex Keithling."One of the uniqueness of our system is that each time it is operated, the arrangement and connection of cubits can be completely reconstructed several times per second."

Cuella's machine was completed after sophisticated with the original design drawings and technologies over the years.The projects were the leaders of Harvard University Mikhail Lucin, Professor Marcus Gliner, and Professor Vladan Vretik and Professor Dark England (all members of the Cuella founding team).At the time of 2017, the initial model developed by the Harvard Group used only 51 cubits, but in 2020 it realized a 256 cubits system.Cuella's development team assumes that it will reach 1000 cubits within two years.In addition, the design of the platform does not change much, and the system is expanded to more than hundreds of thousands of cubits.

It is thanks to Cuella's unique platforms that can make such a dramatic expansion.Specifically, it is due to the physical method of system construction and the method of encoding and processing information.

Google and IBM quantum computing systems use superconducting cubits, and Ion Q uses capture ions.On the other hand, the cuella platform uses an array of neutral atoms, which creates a tremendous coherence (that is, high quantitivity).The system uses a laser pulse to interact with the atoms and excite a certain energy.The "Lude Belli state" advocated by Swedish physicist Johannes Lude Beri in 1888.By doing so, quantum logic can be reproduced stably at a high loyalty.Quantum computing has been studying methods for using a lude verbi state for decades, but it was necessary to achieve technical progress such as lasers and optical engineering to achieve highly reliable.

When I first learned about Professor Lucin of Harvard University, the Berkeley Quantum Computation Center (computer scientist) said that I was so excited to forget me. To tell. I thought it was a great idea. But at the same time, he asked himself if his intuition was really true. "There are various ways to be considered, such as superconducting and the capture of ions, and I don't have to think about another method even though I have been studying for a long time?" Mr. Vizlani asked the Paul Press Kill, the director of the Institute for Quantum and Matter, a physicist at California Institute of Technology. Preskill, director, replied that the exhilaration of Vas Lani was reasonable.

Not only cuella quantum simulators, but also platforms that use the lude -vertical state, the Preskill Kill is interesting because the quantum entanglement is large and has a strong interaction cubits."It's a place where" Magic of Quantum "exists. You may find unexpected results in a relatively short period of time. I'm very excited."

Cuella is also working on the development of quantum algorithms that solve the "NP perfect" optimization problem, which is known for its very difficult, in addition to simulation and research of mechanics based on quantum theory."This is the first example of the useful advantage of quantums in scientific applications," says Lukin.

Rakuten is also invested in Cuella.Rakuten is a Japanese company that handles Internet services, electronic commercial transactions, and FinTech, which is interested in optimizing the installation location of 4G and 5G mobile services."We can expect many optimization issues, from delivery routes to inventory portfolios, search engines, products and services," says Takuya Kitagawa Chief Data Officer."The dream is big."

However, Preskill Director is not very optimistic about the possibility that the cuella system transcends the conventional algorithm in optimization issues.The director of the Press Kill is the person who has created the word "quantum transcendence" (quantum computer realizes that conventional computers are not possible)."There is no solid theoretical discussion that the amount of quantum superiority will be realized soon in optimization, but it is of course worth studying."

Press Kill Director is paying attention to the cuella plan to open its platform widely for research and development.If there are many people who play with various systems, it will be easier to find the excellent parts of the system.I just hope that researchers will not be able to play with Tetris and Space Invaders.