On Tuesday, IBM revealed plans to construct what it claims will be the first large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer in history by 2029. This might be a game-changer in the race to commercialize quantum computing.
The IBM Quantum Starling system, which will be located in a new quantum data center in Poughkeepsie, New York, is anticipated to do 100 million quantum operations utilizing 200 logical qubits and accomplish 20,000 times more operations than existing quantum computers.
A Technological Advancement Lowers The Error Burden
The release focuses on IBM’s creation of a novel error correction technique that uses quantum low-density parity check codes. According to the corporation, this technique uses about 90% less physical qubits than previous methods.
According to Jay Gambetta, vice president of IBM’s Quantum Initiative, “we now have a complete architecture where, if you compare it to the surface code architectures that exist, that is also an order of magnitude or more efficient,” nextgov said.
By combining these codes with modular hardware that facilitates long-range qubit communication, the method, known as “bicycle architecture,” solves a major problem with quantum computing: qubits are by nature noisy and error-prone.
The Roadmap Shows The Way To 2029
The interim processors that will lead to Starling are listed in IBM’s revised roadmap. This year, IBM Quantum Loon is anticipated to test architecture elements such as connectors that connect qubits over greater distances. The company’s first modular processor built to store and process encoded data is the IBM Quantum Kookaburra, which is scheduled for release in 2026.
The 2027 IBM Quantum Cockatoo project will connect quantum devices as nodes in a bigger system. IBM Quantum Blue Jay, which can perform 1 billion quantum operations across 2,000 logical qubits, will eventually be built on top of Starling.
Uses And The Industry Background
The technique could hasten advancements in chemistry, optimization, materials discovery, medicine development, and other domains where quantum computers’ capacity to handle intricate computations may give them an edge over classical computers.
“IBM is leading the way in quantum computing,” stated Arvind Krishna, the CEO and chairman of IBM. “Our expertise across mathematics, physics, and engineering is paving the way for a large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer — one that will solve real-world challenges and unlock immense possibilities for business” .
IBM initially deployed quantum computers on the cloud in 2016, and the news comes as the sector is under pressure to show real-world uses beyond experimental use.