Japanese engineers have turned on the world’s first hybrid quantum supercomputer.
The 20-kit quantum computer called Reimei is integrated into Fugaku, the sixth fastest supercomputer in the world. Hybrid platforms work to tackle calculations that can take a long time to process.
The machines at the Seasonal Science Institute near Tokyo are primarily used for physics and chemical research, and the Quantinuum representative, manufacturers of Reimei and Riken said in a joint statement.
Quantum computers can one day overtake classical computers, and they could complete calculations in minutes or seconds that would otherwise take millions of years. However, until quantum computers are large enough and reliable, scientists say that integrating that functionality into a supercomputer could be a stopgap.
Unlike most quantum computers that use superconducting qubits, Reimei uses confined ion qubits. This includes separating charged atoms or ions in an electromagnetic field (an electromagnetic field known as an ion trap) and using a laser to accurately control the quantum state.
Related: Google’s Sycamore Quantum Computer chip suggests it’s better than the fastest supercomputers.
This allows scientists to manipulate ions to be used as qubits to store and process quantum information. The qubits of trapped ions promote more connections between Qubits and longer coherence times, while superconducting Qubits make faster gate connections faster and easier to manufacture on the chip.
A representative from Riken said that Quintinuum’s Quantum computer was selected for integration. This process of “ion shuttle” allows qubits to move around the circuit as needed, allowing for more complex algorithms.
Error correction system
Because Qubits is “noisy” in nature, in order to effectively scale up quantum computers, scientists are developing error correction techniques to increase the fidelity of Qubits.
In Reimei, the qubits of physical ions are grouped together to create “logical qubits.” This means a set of physical qubits that store the same information in several locations. Logical qubits are an important route to achieving the desired reduction in kikubit errors, as distributing information to various locations will widen the points of failure.
Quaintinuum previously achieved a breakthrough in creating logical qubits with an error rate of 800 times lower than physical qubits.
Reimei-Fugaku is the first fully-operated integrated hybrid system, but other companies have previously tested such systems. In June 2024, IQM integrated a 20 quit Quantum processor into the SuperMuc-ng supercomputer in Garching, Germany.
However, the system is still in the test phase and has not been confirmed to have a publication date when it will be fully operational. In October, IQM representatives announced that they would integrate the 54-kut system into the supercomputer in the second half of 2025, followed by 150-kut chips in 2026.
