Alice & Bob tape out 16 qubit quantum processor
French quantum startup Alice & Bob has taped out a prototype of an error corrected logical qubit.
The 16 qbit quantum processor from Alice & Bob is expected to improve error rates with every qubit added, making it a prototype for the company’s first error-corrected, logical qubit.
The Helium 1 quantum processing unit (QPU) is the first chip in the Alice & Bob roadmap combining cat qubits to run an error correction code. The company will be able to use this platform to create its first logical qubit with error rates lower than any existing single physical qubit. With the tape-out complete, the chip enters a characterization and calibration phase that will be followed by a release on the cloud.
- Bob and Alice enable Long-distance quantum teleportation
- IBM launches 133 qbit quantum chip, looks to 1bn gates
- Intel shows mass produced 12 qbit CMOS quantum chip
Errors in quantum computers are caused by bit flips and phase flips. Protected from bit flips by design, cat qubits are hardware efficient and enable logical qubit designs using significantly fewer qubits. Helium 1 will run an error correction code that actively suppresses the remaining phase flips, effectively addressing both error types.
Alice & Bob specializes in cat qubits, a technology pioneered by the company’s founders and later adopted by Amazon. Cat qubits reduce hardware requirements by up to 60 times compared to competing approaches. Alice & Bob recently showed that the number of qubits required to run the well-known Shor’s algorithm can be reduced from 20 million to 350 thousand with a cat qubit-based system.
“Our cat qubit technology already holds world records in addressing bit flips,” said Théau Peronnin, CEO of Alice & Bob. “Helium 1 is our new platform to exponentially suppress the remaining errors as we add more depth, enabling us to deliver on our clear roadmap to reach the full computational potential of quantum computers.”
Helium 1 is the first prototype which will be the basis of Alice & Bob’s “six-nines” logical qubit with a logical error rate of 10-6 or lower.
If you enjoyed this article, you will like the following ones: don't miss them by subscribing to :
