Japan's Full-Stack Quantum Computer That Works At Room Temperature Has Just Gone Live, Powered By 50 Qubits - iflscience.com

Quantum computers have the potential to be world-changing, but they haven't quite fulfilled that bold promise just yet. In the latest slow but steady step forward, Japan has unveiled its first full-stack neutral-atom quantum computer, which can work its "magic" at room temperature.The machine was designed by the Institute for Molecular Science (IMS) at Japan's National Institutes of Natural Sciences in collaboration with Hitachi, using a quantum processing unit (QPU) from the US-based tech company Infleqtion. Welcome to the world, ShunkaiIt's called “Shunkai,” named in honor of Shibukawa Shunkai, AKA Shibukawa Harumi, an astronomer from the Edo Period (1603-1867) who was a dab hand at the wonderfully complex board game Go.The Japanese quantum computer is an example of neutral-atom quantum computing, meaning each of its "qubits" is a single atom held in place by laser light. Quantum calculations are performed by blasting the atom with microwaves or laser light, then observing subtle changes to the light and other electromagnetic radiation it emits.Unlike a classical computer bit, which must be strictly 0 or 1, a qubit can exist in multiple states simultaneously until it is directly measured. Together with other quirks of quantum mechanics, like entanglement, this gives it a huge edge in solving certain problems at far faster speeds than classical computers.In practice, quantum computers still can't beat high-end supercomputers at most tasks because of the many difficulties in scaling the technology and the trickiness of working with quantum mechanics.With the help of Shunkai, though, the researchers hope to flatten some of those hurdles. "Neutral atom-based quantum computers have recently been rapidly attracting attention around the world as a new modality that could exceed the limits of the superconducting modality, which started its development earlier,” Kenji Ohmori, a Professor at the Institute for Molecular Science who is leading the project, said in a statement.                                                                                    A key tenet of the machine is practicality and scalability. Shunkai is a "full-stack" system, meaning it includes every layer needed to turn a human’s inputs into a meaningful result, kind of like the laptop or smartphone you’re reading this on. What is Shunkai's job?The announcement suggests that a major focus of the work will be testing and improving quantum error correction. Error correction is a crucial part of any computer. Without the ability to recognize wrong turns and correct its course, small errors can build up and skew the results. However, it's especially difficult for quantum computers because quantum states are fragile and easily disturbed by noisy data. Shunkai will initially use around 50 qubits to perform its work, but the researchers plan to eventually expand it to approximately 500 qubits.

The team has also set the precise deadline of March 2031 to develop a similar system that runs on 10,000 qubits.“I think it is extremely significant that now we have developed Japan's first full-stack quantum computer in this cutting-edge modality and started its operation," added Professor Ohmori."We expect that the external use of our full-stack machine Shunkai, for example, by the theory and software researchers for the development of error-correction technologies, and by the corporate researchers toward practical applications would lead to ripple effects on various fields in industry, academia, and government around the world," he explained.Cool as a cucumberAnother major plus is Shunkai’s ability to work at room temperature. Practically all other quantum computers need to be held in ultra-low temperatures – just above absolute zero (0 Kelvin, -459.67°F or -273.15°C) – to ensure thermal energy doesn’t shake things up and disrupt the fragile quantum states. It's a barrier that makes these machines even more costly and impractical, relying on complex refrigeration systems that make the machines difficult to scale.Quantum computers still need to make a few leaps before they have a real impact on everyday life, rather than being experimental tools for very specific scientific tasks. However, with small steps like this, the world of computing will eventually get there.