MIT researchers have demonstrated what they believe is the strongest nonlinear light-matter coupling ever achieved in a quantum system. Their experiment is a step toward realizing quantum operations and readout that could be performed in a few nanoseconds. The researchers used a novel superconducting circuit architecture to show nonlinear light-matter coupling that is about an order of magnitude stronger than prior demonstrations, which could enable a quantum processor to run about 10 times faster. “This would really eliminate one of the bottlenecks in quantum computing. Usually, you have to measure the results of your computations in between rounds of error correction. This could accelerate how quickly we can reach the fault-tolerant quantum computing stage and be able to get real-world applications and value out of our quantum computers,” says Yufeng “Bright” Ye, lead author of a paper on this research. The new architecture, based on a superconducting “quarton” coupler, achieved coupling strengths roughly ten times higher than previous designs, potentially allowing quantum processors to run ten times faster. Faster readout and operations are critical to reducing errors in quantum computation, which depend on performing error correction within the limited lifespans of qubits. Researchers demonstrated extremely strong nonlinear light-matter coupling in a quantum circuit. Stronger coupling enables faster readout and operations using qubits, which are the fundamental units of information in quantum computing. (Christine Daniloff, MIT)
Origin Quantum launches Tianji 4.0 to support scalable quantum systems offering standardized workflows capable of being executed by non-specialist engineers
Origin Quantum Computing Technology has released its fourth-generation quantum control system, Tianji 4.0, which supports over 500 qubits and supports China’s continuing efforts toward building scalable, industrial-grade quantum computing infrastructure. Tianji 4.0 introduces improvements across scalability, integration, stability, and automation. It reflects a move from intense hardware tuning to standardized workflows capable of being executed by non-specialist engineers. Tianji 4.0 integrates with four core software systems developed by Origin Quantum. This full-stack integration streamlines the testing and tuning of superconducting qubit chips, which traditionally required input from PhD-level specialists. The result, according to the company, is a more repeatable and scalable approach to engineering, which prepares the system for use in future hundred-qubit quantum devices. Guo Guoping, director of the Anhui Quantum Computing Engineering Research Center and chief scientist at Origin Quantum, emphasized that the launch signifies a transition from prototype-level development to replicable engineering production. This could lay the foundation for mass production of quantum systems that are both higher in qubit count and more reliable in operation, which are essential requirements for practical use in computation-heavy sectors. The functionality offered by Tianji 4.0 suggests a continued focus on hardware-software co-design, system stability under increasing qubit counts, and preparation for industrial deployment, as well as prioritization of higher-throughput and modular quantum platforms within China’s domestic quantum ecosystem.
China’s Origin Quantum releases fourth-generation quantum control system, heads toward mass production, supports over 500 qubits and serves as the central control for superconducting quantum computers
China’s Origin Quantum has launched its fourth-generation quantum control system, a move signaling the country’s increasing push to industrialize and scale quantum computing capabilities. The new system, dubbed Origin Tianji 4.0, supports over 500 qubits and serves as the central control for superconducting quantum computers, according to The Global Times, a media outlet under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The system, unveiled this week in Hefei, is positioned as a critical enabler for mass-producing quantum computers with more than 100 qubits. The control system is considered the “neural center” of a quantum computer. It generates, acquires and controls the precise signals that manage quantum chips, which are the computational heart of a quantum system. With the Tianji 4.0 upgrade, Origin Quantum claims major improvements in integration, automation and scalability compared to its previous version, which powered the country’s third-generation superconducting quantum computer, Origin Wukong. The company said Tianji 4.0 is integrated with four of Origin Quantum’s proprietary software platforms, enabling faster testing and adjustment of superconducting chips. These improvements are expected to reduce both the cost and time required to bring quantum machines online.
New quantum states that are magnet-freee could support building topological quantum computers that are stable and less prone to the errors
A new study published in Nature reports the discovery of over a dozen previously unseen quantum states in twisted molybdenum ditelluride, expanding the “quantum zoo” of exotic matter. Among them are states that could be used to create what is known, theoretically at the moment, as a topological quantum computer. Topological quantum computers will have unique quantum properties that should make them less prone to the errors that hinder quantum computers, which are currently built with superconducting materials. But superconducting materials are disrupted by magnets, which have until now been used in attempts to create the topological states needed for this (still unrealized) next generation of quantum computers. Lead author from Howard Family Professor of Nanoscience at Columbia, Xiaoyang Zhu’s zoo solves that problem: The states he and his team discovered can all be created without an external magnet, thanks to the special properties of a material called twisted molybdenum ditelluride. These states, including magnet-free fractional quantum Hall effects, could support non-Abelian anyons—key building blocks for more stable, topological quantum computers. The discoveries were made using a pump-probe spectroscopy technique that detects subtle shifts in quantum states with high sensitivity, revealing fractional charges and dynamic quantum behavior.
New algorithm reduces quantum data preparation time by 85% by using advanced graph analytics and clique partitioning to compress and organize massive datasets
Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed a new algorithm, Picasso, that reduces quantum data preparation time by 85%, addressing a key bottleneck in hybrid quantum-classical computing. The algorithm uses advanced graph analytics and clique partitioning to compress and organize massive datasets, making it feasible to prepare quantum inputs from problems 50 times larger than previous tools allowed. The PNNL team was able to lighten the computational load substantially by developing new graph analytics methods to group the Pauli operations, slashing the number of Pauli strings included in the calculation by about 85 percent. Altogether, the algorithm solved a problem with 2 million Pauli strings and a trillion-plus relationships in 15 minutes. Compared to other approaches, the team’s algorithm can process input from nearly 50 times as many Pauli strings, or vertices, and more than 2,400 times as many relationships, or edges. The scientists reduced the computational load through a technique known as clique partitioning. Instead of pulling along all the available data through each stage of computation, the team created a way to use a much smaller amount of the data to guide its calculations by sorting similar items into distinct groupings known as “cliques.” The goal is to sort all data into the smallest number of cliques possible and still enable accurate calculations. By combining sparsification techniques with AI-guided optimization, Picasso enables efficient scaling toward quantum systems with hundreds or thousands of qubits.
Scientists develop OS that allows quantum computers to connect with each other, paving the way for a quantum internet
Scientists have developed the world’s first operating system for quantum computers, QNodeOS. This system allows quantum computers to connect with each other, paving the way for a quantum internet. QNodeOS operates by combining a classical network processing unit (CNPU) with a quantum network processing unit (QNPU), which controls the quantum code. The QNodeOS connects to a separate quantum device called the QDevice, which is responsible for executing quantum operations. The QDriver is a key component of QNodeOS, enabling it to control different types of quantum computers. The QNodeOS was demonstrated by connecting different quantum computers together and running a test program. Further experimentation is required, including using more quantum computers of different types and increasing the distance between them. The architecture could be improved by having the CNPU and QNPU on a single system board to avoid millisecond delays in communication. A quantum computer operating system represents a major step forward in their development, with potential applications for distributed quantum computing and potentially laying the foundations for a quantum internet.
Fujitsu and RIKEN develop world-leading 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer for more complex challenges like implementing error correction algorithms and seamless collaboration between quantum and classical computers
Fujitsu Limited and RIKEN have developed a 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer, which will be integrated into their hybrid quantum computing platform starting in Q1 2025. The computer builds on the 64-qubit version, launched with the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s support in October 2023. The 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer will enable users to tackle complex challenges like analyzing larger molecules and implementing error correction algorithms. The platform will also enable seamless collaboration between quantum and classical computers, enabling efficient execution of hybrid quantum-classical algorithms. The computer overcomes technical challenges, including appropriate cooling within the dilution refrigerator. Scalable 3D connection structure: Enables efficient scaling of qubit count without requiring complex redesigns by arranging 4-qubit unit cells in a 3D configuration; The 256-qubit machine utilizes the same unit cell design established in its 64-qubit predecessor, effectively demonstrating the scalability of this architectural approach. Quadrupled implementation density within dilution refrigerator: Quadrupled implementation density achieved within the dilution refrigerator, allowing the 256-qubit machine to operate within the same cooling unit as the 64-qubit system; Highly optimized design that carefully balances heat generation from control circuits with the cooling capacity of the refrigerator, while maintaining the necessary ultra-high vacuum and extremely low temperatures