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Technological advances in quantum calculation continue to defy expectations and push the boundaries of what is possible. Recently, Google announced that its new quantum processor, called “Willow”, had achieved a feat that seemed unimaginable: solving in a few minutes a problem that would have taken current supercomputers billions of years. This landmark achievement highlights not only the growing power of quantum computers, but also their potential to transform various sectors of science and technology. The development of Willow represents a crucial step towards the creation of more reliable and efficient quantum machines, thus propelling humanity towards an unprecedented era of calculation. What does this breakthrough really mean for the future of technology and science?
The birth of Willow: a milestone in quantum computing
Google has made a significant leap forward with its Willow quantum processor, successor to the famous Sycamore. The latter had already set records in 2019 by carrying out calculations in record time. However, Willow goes even further by integrating technologies of error correction advanced, making it possible to eliminate more faults than are introduced. This capability is essential for quantum computing, known to be particularly “noisy”, with frequent errors in qubits, the fundamental units of quantum information. Indeed, in traditional computers, one bit in a billion fails, while in quantum systems it is one in a thousand.
The challenge has always been to reduce these errors at an acceptable level for quantum computers to truly outperform their classical counterparts. With Willow, Google has cleared this hurdle by reaching a “subthreshold” threshold defined by scientist Peter Shor in 1995. This milestone means that an increase in the number of physical qubits now leads to an exponential decrease in errors, paving the way to the expansion of quantum machines.
The key lies in logical qubits, which are sets of physical qubits sharing the same information. If one of them fails, the calculation can continue, ensuring increased reliability. This innovation offers exciting prospects for the future of quantum computing, enabling tasks not possible with current technologies.
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Willow versus supercomputers: a fascinating comparison
Willow's performance against the world's best supercomputers is simply astonishing. During tests using the benchmark of random circuit sampling (RCS), now the standard for evaluating quantum chips, Willow performed a calculation in less than five minutes that would have taken current supercomputers 10 septillion years. To put this into perspective, 10 septillion years is almost a quadrillion times the age of the universe.
This comparison illustrates not only the incredible speed of quantum processors, but also their ability to solve problems of unimaginable complexity. Traditional supercomputers, while extremely powerful, are limited by their binary architecture, where each unit of information is either a 0 or a 1. In contrast, qubits can exist in multiple states simultaneously, allowing parallel processing of a massive amount of data.
By combining this capability with the error reduction enabled by correction technologies, Willow surpasses the limitations of current computing systems, paving the way for revolutionary applications in areas such as cryptography, molecular modeling and intelligence. artificial.
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Error correction technologies: the heart of the quantum revolution
One of Willow's decisive advances lies in its error correction. In quantum computing, the durability of qubits is often compromised by errors inherent in their operation. Qubits are extremely sensitive to external disturbances, which limits their coherence time, that is, the length of time they can remain in a superposition state to process calculations in parallel.
@goshen_tok Willow, @Google's quantum computer, solves in minutes what would take billions of years. Opportunity or threat? Find out here! 🚀 #Willow #technology
At Willow, Google researchers implemented significant improvements in calibration protocols, machine learning techniques to identify errors, and device manufacturing methods. These improvements have increased coherence times, while retaining the ability to adjust physical qubits to optimize performance.
This innovative approach makes it possible to build robust logical qubits, capable of operating even when certain physical qubits fail. As a result, Willow can not only perform complex tasks with unparalleled precision, but it also heralds a new era of computing where quantum machines will become increasingly reliable as they grow.
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Potential applications: broad and varied implications
Google unveiled Willow, a new quantum chip that performs calculations that a current computer would have taken ten million billion billion years to do (10²⁵ years).
The trick is that this feat is useless. On the other hand, it opens the way to the correction of… pic.twitter.com/Rx8fIK0Z3D
— Prof. Fabrizio Bucella (@FabrizioBucella) December 13, 2024
The implications of Willow go far beyond simply demonstrating computing power. The potential applications of quantum processors cover a wide range of areas. For example, in cryptographyquantum computers could decipher codes currently considered inviolable, posing challenges but also opportunities for data security.
In the field of chemistry and materialsthe modeling capabilities of quantum computers could accelerate the discovery of new materials and drugs by simulating molecular interactions that are impossible to study with classical computers. This could revolutionize scientific research and lead to significant medical advances.
Furthermore, quantum computers could transform theartificial intelligence by enabling more complex and faster learning models, paving the way for innovations in areas such as speech recognition, machine translation and autonomous driving.
The future of quantum computing: challenges and promises
Despite these impressive advances, the path to fully operational and widespread quantum computing is fraught with challenges. One of the long-term goals is to create logical qubits of exceptional quality, requiring the assembly of thousands of physical qubits. This mammoth task requires not only hardware improvements, but also continued innovations in error correction.
Scientists at Google and elsewhere are working to connect logical qubits to outperform current supercomputers not only in benchmark tests, but also in practical, real-world applications. This will require considerable investment in research and development, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration between physicists, engineers and computer scientists.
While Willow marks a key milestone, it remains to be seen how these technologies will be integrated into business solutions and how they will transform industries globally. What will be the future applications of quantum computers that will change our daily lives?
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