Tech giant IBM, who is credited to give the world first computer Mark-I during second World War, has unveiled the world’s most powerful quantum processor dubbed as 'Eagle'. With 127 quantum bits (qubits), the Eagle is a major step towards commercial quantum computers outperforming traditional computing machines.
IBM announced its 'Eagle' processor on Tuesday at the IBM Quantum Summit 2021, its flagship, invite-only annual event to showcase milestones in quantum hardware, software, and the growth of the quantum ecosystem.
In a next after Eagle, IBM is planning to introduce Osprey (433 Qubits) and Condor (1,121 Qubits) processors, in the year 2022 and 2023 respectively.
Last week, a team of physicists from the Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms and other universities developed a special type of quantum computer known as a programmable quantum simulator capable of operating with 256 Qubits, touted as largest of its kind ever created. However, it is an experimental quantum simulator and not an actual working quantum computer but rather a simulator that allowed researchers to observe several exotic quantum states of matter that had never before been realized experimentally
Coming back to 'Eagle', it is IBM's first quantum processor developed and deployed to contain more than 100 operational and connected qubits. It follows IBM's 65-qubit 'Hummingbird' processor unveiled in 2020 and the 27-qubit 'Falcon' processor unveiled in 2019.
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Modular & Scalable Quantum Computers
IBM also unveiled a concept for the future of quantum computing systems -- IBM Quantum System Two -- a modular quantum computing concept by IBM, giving flexibility to hardware to continue to increase the scale of IBM chips.
IBM Quantum System Two brings the possibility of providing a larger shared cryogenic workspace, by linking multiple quantum processors through novel interconnects. Cryogenics is the production and behaviour of materials at very low temperatures. For cryogenic platform, IBM is working with Finland-based Bluefors, a company that specializes in cryogen-free dilution refrigerator systems, with a strong focus on the quantum computing. Bluefors has just revealed a new cryogenic platform called KIDE.
As per IBM, System Two represents a glimpse into the future of what quantum computing looks like — a true quantum data center.
To recall, in May this year IBM announced world’s first chip with 2 nanometer (nm) nanosheet technology, which allows to fit up to 50 billion transistors on a chip the size of a fingernail.
SOURCE - IBM Newsroom | IBM Research Blog