Quantinuum's Groundbreaking 56 trapped-ion qubits Quantum Computer Breaks Records

The quantum world just got a lot more interesting. Quantinuum, the largest integrated quantum computing company globally, has introduced the industry’s first quantum computer boasting an impressive 56 trapped-ion qubits. Named the H2-1, this quantum powerhouse has dramatically advanced in market-leading fidelity, reaching a level of complexity that classical computers simply can’t match.

Trapped Ion Qubits are tiny charged particles (ions) that are held in place using electric and magnetic fields. These ions are used in quantum computers to store and process information. Think of them as very small beads that can be moved and controlled with precision.

Trapped Ion Qubits

There are several types of qubits used in different types of quantum computers, but let's focus on three main ones: They are Trapped Ion Qubits, Superconducting Qubits, and Photonic Qubits.

Trapped Ion Qubits can maintain their quantum state for a long time, making them very accurate. They tend to make fewer mistakes compared to other types. It’s easier to connect and control multiple trapped ions, which is good for building larger quantum computers which makes them more scalable.

They may be slower in processing operations compared to some other qubits. The equipment needed to trap and control the ions is complex and can be bulky.

Superconducting Qubits can perform operations very quickly and may be easier to integrate with existing semiconductor technology. However they have Short Coherence Time which means they can lose their quantum state quickly, leading to more errors. They also need extremely low temperatures to operate, which requires sophisticated cooling systems.

Photonic Qubits on the other-hand benefits from Room Temperature Operation: They can work at room temperature, which simplifies the setup. This makes them great for transmitting information over long distances, useful in quantum communication. On the downside it is much harder to get photonic qubits to interact with each other, which is necessary for certain types of computations. They can also be prone to higher error rates compared to trapped ions.

Image generated by AI to demonstrate abstract concept of trapped IONs

A new world record

In a stunning collaboration, Quantinuum and JPMorgan Chase joined forces to run a Random Circuit Sampling (RCS) algorithm on the H2-1. The result? A staggering 100x improvement over Google's 2019 industry benchmark, setting a new world record for the cross entropy benchmark. The Cross Entropy Benchmark is a way to measure how well a quantum computer performs certain tasks compared to a classical computer. It's like a test to see if a quantum computer is doing its job correctly. The mathematical concept of Cross Entropy used to compare two probability distributions. In simple terms, it measures how different two sets of outcomes are from each other. For quantum computing, it helps us understand how closely the quantum computer's results match the expected results.

This achievement highlights the extraordinary combination of scale and hardware fidelity of the H2-1, placing it some leagues ahead of even the most powerful supercomputers and other quantum computing architectures available today according to the company.

Quantinuum and JPMorgan Chase’s Quantum Leap

The breakthrough isn’t just about numbers. Rajeeb Hazra, CEO of Quantinuum, emphasized that this leap forward accelerates research for clients like JPMorgan Chase, pushing boundaries that other technologies can't touch. "Our focus on the quality of qubits rather than just the quantity is reshaping what’s possible," Hazra explained. This approach is propelling us closer to real-world quantum applications in industries like finance, logistics, transportation, and chemistry.

Quantinuum's analysis reveals another mind-blowing fact: the H2-1 executes RCS at 56 qubits with a 30,000x reduction in power consumption compared to classical supercomputers. This not only makes it a greener option but also solidifies its role as a solution for a wide array of computational challenges.

Marco Pistoia, Head of Global Technology Applied Research at JPMorgan Chase, added, "The fidelity achieved in our random circuit sampling experiment shows unprecedented system-level performance of the Quantinuum quantum computer. We are excited to leverage this high fidelity to advance quantum algorithms for industrial and financial use cases."

High Fidelity means the quantum computer can perform complex calculations with a high degree of accuracy. For businesses and industries, this accuracy is crucial because it leads to more reliable and precise results.

Algorithms are step-by-step instructions for solving problems. With high fidelity, quantum computers can run these algorithms more effectively. This can lead to breakthroughs in how we solve complex problems mathematically and computationally.

For industries, this might mean better ways to manage supply chains, optimise manufacturing processes, or develop new materials. In finance, it could improve how we model financial markets, manage risks, and create investment strategies especially in automated trading.

Quantinuum’s Breakthroughs of 2024

This announcement is the latest in a series of significant advancements for Quantinuum in 2024:

1. March Breakthrough: Quantinuum solved the "wiring problem," demonstrating that their quantum charge-coupled device (QCCD) architecture can scale to large qubit numbers.

2. Three 9s Fidelity: Their H-Series was the first to achieve 99.9% two-qubit gate fidelity across all qubit pairs in a production device, a milestone for fault tolerance.

3. Collaboration with Microsoft: Together with Microsoft, Quantinuum's H2-1 became the first quantum computer capable of achieving Level 2 Resilient quantum computing, creating four reliable logical qubits and reducing error rates by 800-fold.

Dennis Tom, General Manager at Microsoft Azure Quantum, remarked on the collaboration’s success and future potential: "With the additional physical qubits on Quantinuum's new machine, we anticipate creating more logical qubits with even lower error rates, enhancing both the resiliency of quantum operations and the utility of quantum computing."

A Robust Future Ahead

Quantinuum’s progress isn’t just technical; it’s also financial. They recently closed a $300 million equity fundraise led by JPMorgan Chase, with participation from Mitsui & Co., Amgen, and Honeywell. This brings their total capital raised since inception to approximately $625 million, reinforcing their leadership in the quantum computing revolution.

To delve deeper into Quantinuum’s latest achievements and read the full scientific paper, visit their [news page](https://www.quantinuum.com/news/quantinuums-h-series-hits 56-physical-qubits-that-are-all-to-all-connected-and-departs-the-era-of-classical-simulation) or the scientific paper on arXiv.