Researchers in Germany have succeeded for the first time in integrating a quantum processor into a powerful computer. The system, called Q-Exa, will soon be opened for research purposes.
Successful test runs showed that the two technologies work together, the Leibniz Computing Center (LRZ) explained on Tuesday when presenting the project in Garching near Munich.
At Q-Exa, a quantum computer based on superconducting circuits from the Finnish-German start-up IQM with 20 qubits works together with the classical supercomputer SuperMUC-NG at the LRZ. The two computers exchange orders with each other.
Quantum computers work fundamentally differently than classical computers. They use not only ones and zeros as the basis for their calculations, but also intermediate states. This allows completely different methods of calculating and solving problems. The hope is that this will make tasks that currently fail even the world’s most powerful computers manageable in the future.
Step towards suitability for daily use
However, quantum computers are difficult to stabilize and basic programming environments and software are still being developed, the LRZ said. The collaboration with supercomputers should, on the one hand, make them suitable for everyday use, and on the other hand, accelerate the supercomputers and help overcome performance limits that cannot be overcome with classical processor technology.
“Together with our partners, we have managed to integrate the first quantum computer into our supercomputers in a short time and make it suitable for use in science,” said the head of the LRZ, Dieter Kranzlmüller. “We are very excited to see how the hybrid system proves itself in everyday work and how we can use it to further develop the future technology of quantum computing.”
Source: Krone
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