University of Sydney Researchers Make Major Step Forward for Quantum Error Algorithms Using NCI & Gadi Supercomputer

(HPCWire) Researchers from the University of Sydney are using NCI and the Gadi supercomputer to find more efficient and powerful ways of controlling the very building blocks of a quantum computer.
The arrangement of qubits that power a quantum computer helps determine its performance and its ability to respond to errors. Errors in quantum calculations are inevitable, due to the delicate nature of the qubits themselves. Vibrations, noises, temperature fluctuations and cosmic rays are all potential sources of errors in a quantum computer. A better arrangement, or surface code, of the qubits allows the computer to more effectively detect and correct those errors that do crop up during a calculation.
The research group had previously raised the threshold below which errors can be corrected to a new level. The higher the threshold is, the more the errors that appear can be resolved by the system. Now, they have brought the threshold to a level that had only previously been theoretically predicted. An outwardly simple change to the arrangement of the qubits produced an unexpectedly large result.
The research group had previously raised the threshold below which errors can be corrected to a new level. The higher the threshold is, the more the errors that appear can be resolved by the system. Now, they have brought the threshold to a level that had only previously been theoretically predicted. An outwardly simple change to the arrangement of the qubits produced an unexpectedly large result.
the researchers have now brought the threshold level in line with the actual error rates of physical quantum computing systems. Research Fellow Dr David Tuckett said, “This step brings us closer to making practical quantum computing possible. Quickly being able to run these simulations on NCI is central to understanding the effectiveness of our qubit arrangements. We couldn’t learn so much without NCI’s support and access to high-performance computing.”