QPU
Quantum Processing Units (QPUs): The Heart of Quantum Innovation
What is a QPU ?
A Quantum Processing Unit (QPU) is a specialized hardware component that powers quantum computers, enabling them to process information using qubits instead of classical bits. Unlike classical computing, where bits represent either a 0 or a 1, qubits can exist in multiple states simultaneously due to the principles of quantum superposition and entanglement. This allows QPUs to solve highly complex problems, opening pathways for advancements in fields like climate science, drug discovery, and artificial intelligence.
Qubit Modalities and Technology
Quantum processors employ different types of qubits, each offering distinct technologies and advantages.
Superconducting Circuits
rely on electronic circuits that are cooled to near absolute zero using dilution refrigerators. IQM technology is based on superconducting circuits. Controlled by microwave signals, these circuits are widely adopted due to their high gate fidelity and compatibility with existing quantum frameworks.
Neutral Atoms
are used as qubits by isolating them in vacuum chambers and controlling their states with high-precision laser systems. These systems excel in applications such as optimization and simulations due to their high scalability and connectivity.
Trapped Electrons or Ions
function as qubits when confined within vacuum chambers. These particles are manipulated through a combination of cryogenic cooling and microwave controls, providing robust error correction and stability in operations.
Photonic Qubits
utilize photons to process quantum information, operating efficiently at room temperature. However, they rely on cryogenically-cooled detectors to interpret quantum states and perform calculations, making them suitable for specialized applications in quantum communication and secure data processing.
Chip design QPU architecture with tunable couplers
IQM is Demonstrating Best-in-class Quality and Accuracy
Fidelity is a measure of the accuracy or quality of a quantum operation or quantum computation.
- If the fidelity of logic gates is too low, calculations will fail because errors will accumulate faster than they can be corrected
- IQM’s long – distance tunable coupler is crucial for achieving high fidelity.
QPU's Architecture
IQM Crystal 20 QPU contains 20 computational qubits and 30 tunable coupler qubits (in total 50 physical qubits).
Tunable coupler for qubits separated by distances up to 2 mm:
- Lower qubit-to-qubit crosstalk,
- Faster gates, higher fidelity
- Create space for individual readout resonators
- Faster readout, lower errors
With our latest benchmarks measured on the Crystal 20 qubit quantum computer, we have demonstrated a median two-qubit (CZ) gate fidelity of 99.51% across 30 qubit pairs, with maximum fidelity over a single pair reaching as high as 99.8%.
Among the system-level benchmarks IQM obtained:
- Quantum Volume (QV) of 25 = 32
- Circuit Layer Operations Per Second (CLOPS) of 2600.
- 20-qubit GHZ state with fidelity greater than 0.5.
- Q-score of 15
Read more about the technology and performance benchmarks of IQM’s 20-qubit quantum computer from this link.
Latest results for 20-qubit Quantum Processors
Qubit count
20
Largest GHZ genuinely entangled state
20
1Q fidelity
median 99.92 %
best 99.9440 ± 0.0001 %
2Q fidelity
median 99.51 %
best 99.82 ± 0.02 %
Quantum volume
(Classical simulation complexity)
32
CLOPS
(Quantum circuit execution speed)
2600
Q-score
(Size of combinatorial optimization task solved)
15
On par with leading US companies
