China Unveils Fastest Quantum Computer
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Chinese scientists have introduced a prototype superconducting quantum computer that they claim outperforms the world’s most powerful supercomputers by an unprecedented margin, marking a significant milestone in quantum computing.
Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) state that their quantum computer operates at a speed a quadrillion (10¹⁵) times faster than the fastest existing supercomputer.
The quantum processor, detailed in a study published in Physical Review Letters, is also reported to be a million times faster than Google’s latest quantum computing experiment.
Scientists worldwide have been striving to develop quantum computers capable of solving problems beyond the reach of classical machines. A widely used benchmark for comparing quantum computing performance is the "random circuit sampling" (RCS) problem, which tests a processor’s ability to generate and validate complex quantum states.
"This process (RCS) has become a focal point of intensive research due to its capacity to underscore the computational superiority of quantum systems," researchers noted.
Google’s Sycamore and China’s Zuchongzhi have been at the forefront of this race. In 2019, Google’s Sycamore processor achieved a breakthrough by completing an RCS task in 200 seconds—a feat estimated to take around 10,000 years on the most powerful supercomputer available at that time.
Now, USTC’s latest quantum processor, Zuchongzhi-3, is reported to surpass Google’s most recent results from October 2024 by six orders of magnitude.
Chinese scientists say Zuchongzhi-3 outperforms the world’s most advanced classical supercomputer by 15 orders of magnitude, "firmly establishing a new benchmark in quantum computational advantage."
"This task is estimated to be infeasible on the most powerful classical supercomputer, Frontier, which would require approximately 5.9×10⁹ years to replicate the task," researchers wrote.
"We have successfully executed a larger-scale random circuit sampling than previously achieved by Google, further widening the gap in computational capabilities between classical and quantum computing," the study stated.
Scientists attribute this leap in computing power to improvements in the processor’s fabrication and wiring design.
The findings mark a significant step in quantum hardware development, researchers say, suggesting future applications in fields such as drug discovery and artificial intelligence.
"Our work not only advances the frontiers of quantum computing but also lays the groundwork for a new era where quantum processors play an essential role in tackling sophisticated real-world challenges," they wrote.
