Although quantum computers have great promise, they are still far from reliable. Their biggest weakness is instability, which quickly corrupts the information they process. Researchers around the world, including a research team in Norway, are working to solve this problem.
“In quantum computers, information is transmitted and stored using so-called quantum bits (qubits). However, quantum information can be quickly lost,” said Professor Jeroen Danon from the Department of Physics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
Why do quantum computers lose information?
A key challenge is understanding exactly how quickly this information disappears. Without that knowledge, it is difficult to improve the performance and reliability of quantum systems.
“In the widely used superconducting qubits, the time it takes for information to disappear is on average a reasonable amount of time, but it seems to change randomly over time,” Danon explained.
This unpredictability creates major obstacles. Scientists lacked a quick and reliable way to measure how long a qubit can hold information. Solving this problem is essential if quantum computers are to be stable enough for practical use.
A new way to measure qubit stability
Danon and his colleagues believe they have found a solution.
“In collaboration with an international team led by the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, we have developed a new measurement method that allows us to measure the time before information is lost with unparalleled speed and accuracy,” Danon said.
Measure quantum data loss 100x faster
Until now, measuring the duration of quantum information typically took about a second. In the world of quantum physics, this is a very long time.
“We did it in about 10 milliseconds, so that’s more than 100 times faster, and it’s near real-time,” Danon said.
This dramatic improvement allows researchers to track how information disappears. It also reveals subtle and rapid changes that were previously undetectable.
“This makes it easier to identify the root cause of information loss,” he said.
What this means for quantum computing
A new approach could reshape the way scientists test and fine-tune quantum processors. By better understanding the small processes that limit performance, researchers can work toward developing more stable and reliable machines.
This advancement brings quantum computing one step closer to realizing its full potential.
