Scientists from China report that their latest quantum computer has achieved a major breakthrough by solving an extremely complex mathematical task in a fraction of a second. This remarkable feat was accomplished 20 billion years faster than the fastest supercomputer in the world.
The quantum computer, known as Jiuzhang 3, also surpassed its predecessor by increasing the calculation rate by a million times. These impressive results were published in the peer-reviewed journal Physical Review Letters. The research team responsible for this achievement is led by Pan Jianve, a prominent scientist in China’s National Quantum Research Program.
The first Jiuzhang computer was developed by the Pan team in 2020 and it utilizes photons as a physical computing tool. After successive advancements, the latest version of Jiuzhang, with 255 photons, demonstrates the team’s progress in scaling up the technology.
For their experiment, the team utilized Jiuzhang 3 to tackle a complex problem based on the sample of the bosons of Gauss, which models the behavior of particles of light as they navigate through intricate crystalline structures. The quantum computer remarkably solved this problem of the highest complexity in just a millionth fraction of a second.
In comparison, the fastest classic supercomputer, the Frontier, which was developed in the United States, would require more than 20 billion years to complete the same task.
China, the United States, and other countries are actively engaged in a competitive journey towards achieving “quantum superiority,” although employing different approaches to reach this goal.
Despite their astounding speed, these quantum computers are not yet ready to replace conventional computers. Currently, they can only operate in a highly controlled environment for short durations and are limited to specific tasks.