Microsoft and Quantinuum’s Quantum Leap: A New Era in Computing and Chemistry

In a landmark collaboration, Microsoft and Quantinuum have taken significant strides in the realm of quantum computing, showcasing the immense potential of this revolutionary technology. By leveraging Azure Quantum’s qubit-virtualization system on Quantinuum’s H2 trapped-ion quantum computer, the teams have successfully created 12 highly reliable logical qubits. This breakthrough is not just a technical marvel but a harbinger of a new era where quantum computing could redefine the boundaries of scientific research and industrial applications. The integration of these logical qubits with artificial intelligence (AI) models and cloud-based high-performance computing (HPC) has enabled the estimation of the ground state energy of a catalytic intermediate, marking a significant milestone towards achieving scientific quantum advantage.

The creation of these 12 logical qubits is a testament to the progress made in error-correction algorithms, which have been meticulously optimized for Quantinuum’s H2 machine. Earlier this year, Microsoft and Quantinuum had already set a precedent by creating the most reliable logical qubits on record using Microsoft’s qubit-virtualization system. Building on this foundation, the teams have now expanded their error-correction capabilities, resulting in logical qubits that exhibit a circuit error rate 22 times better than their physical counterparts. This remarkable improvement underscores the potential of logical qubits to perform increasingly complex quantum computations with unprecedented reliability.

One of the most groundbreaking aspects of this collaboration is the successful entanglement of all 12 logical qubits using a sophisticated arrangement known as a cat state or Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state. This is a significant leap from previous achievements, where only two logical qubits were entangled. The ability to entangle a larger number of logical qubits opens up new avenues for fault-tolerant quantum computations, which are essential for practical and scalable quantum computing. The teams also conducted five rounds of repeated error correction with eight logical qubits, achieving a circuit error rate 11 times better than that of physical qubits. This is the first demonstration of computation and error correction being combined, showcasing the robustness of logical qubits in performing deep quantum computations.

The implications of this breakthrough extend far beyond the realm of quantum computing. The integration of cloud HPC, reliable quantum computing, and AI in an end-to-end hybrid workflow has enabled the teams to solve a real problem in chemistry. By using two logical qubits to prepare the ground state energy of a catalytic intermediate and integrating this result with AI, the teams have demonstrated the emerging usefulness of quantum-classical hybrid computing in scientific research. This is the first time that HPC, AI, and quantum-computing hardware have been applied together to solve a scientific problem, setting a new benchmark for future research and applications.

Logical qubits have proven to be significantly more reliable than physical qubits, producing better estimates of the ground state energy. This higher reliability is crucial for achieving accurate and dependable results in quantum computations. Microsoft’s qubit-virtualization system, which is being integrated into Azure Quantum Elements, and Quantinuum’s inQuanto software package have played pivotal roles in this achievement. The successful combination of these technologies highlights the potential of quantum computing to handle computationally challenging problems in chemistry and other scientific domains.

The recent study on quantum error correction using Quantinuum’s H2 quantum computer marks another milestone in the quest for reliable quantum computing. Scientists have demonstrated that error correction can significantly improve the accuracy of quantum computations by fixing mistakes mid-calculation. This is a critical development, as quantum computers are inherently prone to errors due to the delicate nature of qubits. By combining multiple faulty qubits to create reliable logical qubits, researchers have achieved an error rate of only a tenth of the original, further validating the effectiveness of quantum error correction.

The integration of classical computing, AI, and quantum computing in the study of catalytic reactions producing chiral molecules is a prime example of the transformative potential of quantum technologies. Conducted on the Azure Quantum Elements platform, the research utilized classical HPC simulations for pre-processing reaction data, AI-driven tools for automated reaction network analysis, and quantum computing for addressing electron correlation errors. The results demonstrated the capability of quantum computing to achieve chemical accuracy with significantly lower error rates compared to unencoded computations.

One of the key innovations in this research was the use of the bias-field digitized counterdiabatic quantum optimization (BF-DCQO) algorithm, which played a crucial role in ensuring the reliability of the results. Quantum error-detecting codes were employed to detect and reject errors, enabling fault-tolerant quantum operations. The encoded quantum computations achieved an error of 0.15 milli-hartree, a substantial improvement over the 0.91 milli-hartree error observed in unencoded computations. This proof-of-concept study underscores the potential of large-scale quantum chemistry applications and sets the stage for future advancements in this field.

Microsoft’s announcement of new updates for the Azure Quantum Cloud Service and the successful demonstration of operations with multiple error-corrected qubits further highlight the rapid progress being made in quantum computing. Technical Fellow Krysta Svore emphasized the accelerated progression towards a hundred-logical-qubit capability, which would represent a significant leap forward in the practical use of quantum computing. The partnership with Atom Computing, which uses neutral atoms for qubits and has over 1,000 hardware qubits, is expected to play a pivotal role in achieving this goal.

The error-correction scheme used in the recent demonstration involves measuring ancillary qubits to identify and correct errors, a technique that allows for the detection of problems along both the x-axis and the y-axis. This system, while not entirely foolproof, significantly enhances the reliability of quantum computations by identifying and addressing errors in real-time. Logical qubits, which spread quantum information across multiple bits, provide a robust solution to the issue of hardware qubits producing too many errors. By adding ancillary bits to detect errors, the system can provide valuable information on how to correct them, making logical qubits a cornerstone of fault-tolerant quantum computing.

The collaboration between Microsoft and Quantinuum has also led to the creation and entanglement of 12 highly reliable logical qubits on a 56-physical-qubits H2 machine, the largest number with the highest fidelity on record. This achievement demonstrates the significant improvements made to the Azure Quantum Compute platform and paves the way for future advancements in quantum computing. The successful end-to-end chemistry simulation using the improved platform further validates the potential of quantum computing to solve complex scientific problems with greater accuracy and efficiency.

Looking ahead, Microsoft plans to combine the qubit-virtualization system with Atom Computing’s hardware to create a commercial quantum machine that will be the most powerful on record. This machine will utilize Azure Quantum Elements and Copilot, providing a comprehensive discovery suite for achieving scientific quantum advantage. The goal is to empower governments and organizations to tackle complex problems using advanced computational solutions, thereby fostering a quantum-ready ecosystem and creating job opportunities in this burgeoning field. The Department of Commerce’s recent rule to license export controls for a coalition of like-minded countries further underscores the strategic importance of quantum computing in maintaining a competitive edge on the global stage.

In conclusion, the collaboration between Microsoft and Quantinuum represents a monumental leap forward in the field of quantum computing. The creation of 12 highly reliable logical qubits, the successful integration of quantum computing with AI and HPC, and the significant advancements in error correction all point to a future where quantum computing could revolutionize various scientific and industrial domains. As researchers continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, the potential for quantum computing to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges becomes increasingly evident. This pioneering work lays the foundation for a new era of innovation, where the combined power of classical and quantum technologies can unlock unprecedented possibilities for discovery and problem-solving.