IQM Quantum Computers, a quantum computing company, has achieved new benchmarks on its 20-qubit quantum computer. The advancements were made possible by key technology building blocks, including Quantum Processing Units (QPUs) fabricated at IQM’s facility. The 20-qubit processor demonstrated a median two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.51% across 30 qubit pairs. Dr. Juha Hassel, Head of Engineering and Development at IQM, stated that these results validate their technology choices and they are already working with prototype systems up to 150 qubits. IQM aims to build quantum computers that can deliver value to customers.
IQM Quantum Computers, a company specializing in the construction of quantum computers, has recently reported significant advancements in their 20-qubit quantum computer.
Quantum Computing Challenges and IQM’s Approach
IQM’s recent advancements have been made possible by integrating key technology building blocks. The Quantum Processing Units (QPUs), fabricated at IQM’s quantum chip fabrication facility, serve as the core of these advancements.
The chip utilized in IQM’s system is based on the company’s tunable-coupler concept, which allows for rapid two-qubit gate speed and exceptional fidelity. When integrated with high-quality control electronics developed in-house, the 20-qubit processor exhibits a median two-qubit (CZ) gate fidelity of 99.51% across 30-qubit pairs. The maximum fidelity over a single pair has been recorded as high as 99.8%.
IQM’s System-Level Benchmarks
IQM has achieved several system-level benchmarks, including a Quantum Volume (QV) of 2^5=32, Circuit Layer Operations Per Second (CLOPS) of 2600, a 20-qubit GHZ state with fidelity greater than 0.5, and a Q-score of 11. These benchmarks indicate the system’s performance and the quality of the technology.
Future Goals and Quantum Technology Investment
Dr. Juha Hassel, the Head of Engineering and Development at IQM Quantum Computers, has stated that these advancements are a testament to the functionality and quality of their technology. The company’s technical roadmap aims for higher system performance and scale, with prototype systems up to 150 qubits already in the works. The insights gained from these smaller systems are invaluable for validating the basic technology choices. The ultimate goal is to provide end-users with a high-performance system that delivers maximum value.
Quantum technology has received significant interest and investment from both the public and private sectors, which is expected to accelerate these performance increases further.
Understanding Quantum Computing Metrics
Quantum Volume (QV) is a benchmark that combines scale (number of qubits) and quality (gate fidelity) into a single metric. It measures the largest “square shaped” random circuit that can be computed successfully. To improve this metric, it is necessary to have enough qubits and high gate fidelity. Circuit Layer Operations Per Second (CLOPS) measures the throughput speed of the quantum computer, based on the same random circuits as QV.
The GHZ state is an entangled state of many qubits, and creating large-scale entanglement is a fundamental task for a quantum computer to outperform classical computers. If the GHZ state fidelity is greater than 0.5, it indicates the presence of genuine multiqubit entanglement in the system. The Q-score directly measures the quantum computer’s performance on Max-Cut, a real combinatorial optimization task, indicating the scale at which the problem can be solved using the quantum computer.
IQM Quantum Computers
IQM Quantum Computers is a company that specializes in building quantum computers. They provide on-premises quantum computers for supercomputing centres and research labs and offer full access to their hardware. For industrial customers, IQM delivers quantum advantage through a unique application-specific, co-design approach. IQM’s commercial quantum computers include Finland’s first commercial 50-qubit quantum computer with VTT, IQM-led consortium’s (Q-Exa) HPC quantum accelerator in Germany, and IQM processors will also be used in the first quantum accelerator in Spain. IQM has over 300 employees with offices in Espoo (Finland), Munich (Germany), Madrid (Spain), Paris (France), Singapore, and Palo Alto (CA, US).
