Researchers demonstrate quantum error mitigation on prototype, extending coherent annealing range by order of magnitude

D-Wave Quantum Inc. has disclosed research findings demonstrating the successful implementation of Quantum Error Mitigation (QEM) in its experimental prototype, Advantage2 annealing quantum computing. These techniques effectively reduce errors in quantum simulations, yielding outcomes consistent with the quantum system maintaining its quantum state (“coherence”) for a duration approximately ten times longer than an unmitigated system.

The application of these techniques is anticipated to propel advancements in performance for the upcoming Advantage2 system and subsequent processors. The findings have been shared on the arXiv preprint server. Quantum computation is susceptible to environmental noise and hardware imperfections, commonly referred to as errors. While Quantum Error Correction is widely recognized as the ultimate solution for nullifying the impact of these errors, it introduces significant overhead, rendering it impractical given the current state of technology.

Quantum Error Mitigation (QEM) has emerged as a viable near-term solution for estimating error-free expectation values in the presence of minimal noise. This research signifies D-Wave’s inaugural experimental demonstration of Zero-Noise Extrapolation (ZNE), one of the most practical QEM techniques, implemented within its annealing quantum computing systems. The findings not only provide valuable insights into the performance of more coherent systems but also contribute to defining design specifications for the next generation of processors.

Additionally, these results hold the potential to aid customers in addressing highly computationally complex challenges in scientific and machine learning applications. Mohammad Amin, a fellow in quantum algorithms and systems who led the research at D-Wave, emphasized, “Errors represent the most significant obstacle in all forms of quantum computation. This work demonstrates the successful mitigation of such errors in quantum annealing, producing measurement results as if the qubits were nearly one order of magnitude more coherent.

This enables computation in regimes that were previously inaccessible, such as quantum simulations of exotic magnetic materials, an important milestone on the road to demonstrating quantum supremacy on D-Wave processors.” This work represents the latest in the company’s advancements in coherent annealing quantum computing. In September 2023, D-Wave announced noteworthy progress in the development of high-coherence fluxonium qubits.

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