Colorado-based Quantinuum has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in quantum computing by successfully entangling 50 logical qubits, setting a new record in the field. This accomplishment was announced by David Hayes, the company’s Director of Computational Theory and Design, during a plenary session at the Q2B conference in Silicon Valley earlier this week.
As the race to develop practical quantum computers intensifies, companies are investing billions to surpass the computational capabilities of modern supercomputers. A major hurdle in achieving this goal lies in managing errors inherent in quantum computations. Unlike classical computers, where well-established error correction strategies ensure reliable operations, quantum computers require entirely new methods due to their fundamentally different architecture.
Logical qubits, which combine multiple physical qubits to execute quantum algorithms, play a crucial role in reducing error rates in quantum computations. By entangling logical qubits, researchers can enhance coherence and accuracy, marking an essential step toward practical quantum computing.
Quantinuum’s achievement is significant, as it more than doubles the previous record for entangling logical qubits. Last month, Microsoft and Atom Computing demonstrated the entanglement of 24 logical qubits, while Harvard University and QuEra Computing set a record earlier this year with 48 logical qubits. By entangling 50 logical qubits, Quantinuum has not only raised the bar but also developed the largest number of logical qubits in a single setup.
However, Hayes clarified that while their system can detect errors, it is not yet capable of correcting them, a critical requirement for fault-tolerant quantum computing. Quantinuum’s accomplishment represents one of the three key requirements for industrial-scale quantum computing: developing advanced hardware. The other two components—robust software for performance optimization and seamless hardware-software integration for specific applications—remain challenges that need to be addressed.
Quantinuum’s System Model H2 quantum computer underpins this achievement, showcasing the company’s commitment to pushing quantum technology forward. Despite its current limitations, this milestone highlights the incremental progress being made toward the ultimate goal of a fault-tolerant quantum computer.
For now, the focus remains on bridging the gap between detecting and correcting errors while refining both hardware and software capabilities for industrial-scale applications.
