“Our approach leaves no room for errors,” explained Lemyre, emphasizing the reliability of their new technology. “This boosts our confidence in developing the next generation of codes capable of correcting the errors identified through our two-mode system, which should lead to sustained error-free performance over time.”
Numerous firms have already conducted experiments where they detected and corrected errors during quantum operations. In some cases, these companies have utilized logical qubits, although the computations performed have been relatively basic. In contrast, Nord Quantique has so far demonstrated functionality with only a single logical qubit, preventing any tests from being conducted on two-qubit gate operations using their current hardware description.
The capability to recognize errors alone does not place Nord Quantique at the forefront of quantum computing innovations. So, what makes this noteworthy?
Most competing companies need several hardware qubits to represent just one logical qubit. Given the persistent challenges in scaling up to large numbers of hardware qubits, many researchers aim to reduce the quantity of qubits required for a single logical qubit. Their strategies often include a mix of high-quality hardware, innovative error correction methods, or hardware-specific features designed to mitigate prevalent errors. Nord Quantique’s approach is rather unique in that it operates on the extreme end of this spectrum, requiring only one hardware qubit.
This is particularly important from Nord Quantique’s standpoint, as the lesser need for hardware qubits can translate to a smaller physical footprint and reduced power and cooling demands compared to competitors. In contrast, other technologies, such as those utilizing neutral atoms, are dependent on extensive laser systems and high-vacuum conditions, adding complexity to comparisons. Furthermore, Nord Quantique’s strategy could provide solutions to potential obstacles in scaling up to achieve coherent operation across larger qubit arrays.
