Gorodenkoff/Getty Images In collaboration with experts from Nvidia, researchers from the Jülich Supercomputing Center have broken a world record in quantum simulation. The feat? For the first time ever, a computer has fully and successfully simulated demands for 50 qubits. The previous world record, 48 qubits, was set in 2019 by another team of Jülich researchers using the Japanese K computer. This time they used JUPITER, the recently launched European exascale supercomputer. Why is this so important and what does it mean? First, we must establish that quantum research, or quantum information science, uses a combination of quantum mechanics and computer and information theory to better understand quantum phenomena. At its core, this involves using quantum concepts such as superposition and entanglement to advance technology and realize more powerful computers. Quantum simulations, like those used to break the world record, are a vital part of this research, allowing scientists to test and validate various theories, potential discoveries and algorithms, similar to Google’s development of a futuristic quantum algorithm. Simulations allow scientists to explore what real quantum computers could achieve without access to tangible machines, which are very expensive and limited in availability. This new record expands the capabilities of these simulations, so teams can test more powerful and advanced computers. Researchers use conventional computers to test Advent/Getty Images It’s important to remember that the teams are using conventional computers, albeit much more powerful than your average consumer device, to test future quantum computing solutions. JUPITER, for example, is a supercomputer and not a quantum computer. Inside, the processors are paired with Nvidia’s GH200 superchips, each with up to 624 GB of fast access memory. Researchers and experts also improved the simulation software, Jülich Universal Quantum Computer Simulator (JUQCS), to create a new version, JUQCS-50, to support higher processing power. Each additional qubit doubles the calculation and memory needed to simulate it. Simulating 50 qubits of quantum power requires nearly 2 petabytes of memory, a huge demand for a conventional machine. For comparison, 30 qubits could be simulated on a typical laptop. Professor Kristel Michielsen, director of the Center for Scientific Computing in Jülich, says that “only the world’s largest supercomputers currently offer so many possibilities.” The research “illustrates how advances in high-performance computing and quantum research are closely linked.” It is also worth noting that just as each additional simulated qubit requires a doubling of processing power, each qubit added to a real quantum computer would also double its processing power. New advances in hardware performance and quantum computing are opening the door to very unique opportunities. For example, a new breakthrough could completely change the cost of quantum computers. Other research teams have successfully teleported data using quantum supercomputers. Each discovery tells us more not only about how powerful this technology really is, but also what it can be used to achieve. The cornerstone is understanding what quantum computers are capable of, hence the simulations. Post navigation How many solar panels would it take to equal a nuclear reactor? How long does nuclear waste last?
Gorodenkoff/Getty Images In collaboration with experts from Nvidia, researchers from the Jülich Supercomputing Center have broken a world record in quantum simulation. The feat? For the first time ever, a computer has fully and successfully simulated demands for 50 qubits. The previous world record, 48 qubits, was set in 2019 by another team of Jülich researchers using the Japanese K computer. This time they used JUPITER, the recently launched European exascale supercomputer. Why is this so important and what does it mean? First, we must establish that quantum research, or quantum information science, uses a combination of quantum mechanics and computer and information theory to better understand quantum phenomena. At its core, this involves using quantum concepts such as superposition and entanglement to advance technology and realize more powerful computers. Quantum simulations, like those used to break the world record, are a vital part of this research, allowing scientists to test and validate various theories, potential discoveries and algorithms, similar to Google’s development of a futuristic quantum algorithm. Simulations allow scientists to explore what real quantum computers could achieve without access to tangible machines, which are very expensive and limited in availability. This new record expands the capabilities of these simulations, so teams can test more powerful and advanced computers. Researchers use conventional computers to test Advent/Getty Images It’s important to remember that the teams are using conventional computers, albeit much more powerful than your average consumer device, to test future quantum computing solutions. JUPITER, for example, is a supercomputer and not a quantum computer. Inside, the processors are paired with Nvidia’s GH200 superchips, each with up to 624 GB of fast access memory. Researchers and experts also improved the simulation software, Jülich Universal Quantum Computer Simulator (JUQCS), to create a new version, JUQCS-50, to support higher processing power. Each additional qubit doubles the calculation and memory needed to simulate it. Simulating 50 qubits of quantum power requires nearly 2 petabytes of memory, a huge demand for a conventional machine. For comparison, 30 qubits could be simulated on a typical laptop. Professor Kristel Michielsen, director of the Center for Scientific Computing in Jülich, says that “only the world’s largest supercomputers currently offer so many possibilities.” The research “illustrates how advances in high-performance computing and quantum research are closely linked.” It is also worth noting that just as each additional simulated qubit requires a doubling of processing power, each qubit added to a real quantum computer would also double its processing power. New advances in hardware performance and quantum computing are opening the door to very unique opportunities. For example, a new breakthrough could completely change the cost of quantum computers. Other research teams have successfully teleported data using quantum supercomputers. Each discovery tells us more not only about how powerful this technology really is, but also what it can be used to achieve. The cornerstone is understanding what quantum computers are capable of, hence the simulations.
