Beyond the Qubits in the race for supremacy

Quantum computing’s evolution emphasizes quality over quantity, with advancements in error correction and qubit fidelity driving progress towards practical applications across various industries

- Ashok Pandey

Quantum computing, once a theoretical dream, is now on the cusp of transforming our technological landscape. While the early race for quantum supremacy focused on increasing the number of qubits in a quantum processor, recent advancements have highlighted the importance of factors such as error rates, gate fidelity, and quantum error correction (QEC). Let’s delves into the crucial aspects that extend beyond mere qubit count.

▾ Quality Over Quantity

In the evolving field of quantum computing, the narrative is shifting from sheer qubit numbers to the quality and coherence of these qubits. High qubit fidelity ensures accurate computations, while coherence maintains the quantum state long enough to perform complex calculations. By 2025, development teams are expected to prioritize qubit precision and performance, enhancing the overall reliability of quantum processors.

Quantum processors like IBM’s Eagle, which broke the 100-qubit barrier, exemplify this trend. While surpassing the 100-qubit milestone is significant, it underscores the importance of improving quantum volume and circuit layer operations per second (CLOPS) to achieve practical quantum advantage.

▾ Error Correction and Gate Fidelity

Error correction remains a significant challenge in quantum computing due to the fragile nature of qubits. Recent advancements in error correction techniques are paving the way for more stable quantum systems. Techniques like surface codes and topological qubits are being explored to enhance fault tolerance. The transition from physical to error-corrected logical qubits is expected to be a major milestone in the coming years, making quantum computations more dependable.